These topical areas are obviously closely interrelated, since sound monitoring and evaluation are heavily dependent on the availability of relevant and reliable information about program operations and participant outcomes. A great deal of ground was covered in the two meetings, and a number of very thoughtful and useful ideas were generated. Monitoring and evaluation of drug courts are critically important functions. There is a substantial amount of basic information that every drug court program should collect and analyze on a regular basis as the foundation for effective program monitoring. A list of the principal types of information needed for monitoring purposes can be found on pages 4-5 of this report.
Evaluation is a particularly troublesome area for many drug court program leaders.
They recognize the importance of having methodologically sound evaluations conducted but are also aware of the obstacles to this accomplishment. Development of effective drug court management information systems is a top priority issue for drug court practitioners. The management information systems currently in use in most American courts and criminal justice systems do not provide the basic information needed for operational decisionmaking in individual drug court cases, overall management of the drug court's caseload, sound program monitoring, or useful evaluation. However, some drug courts have already undertaken significant MIS development efforts that may have broad applicability. Four examples of locally developed drug court management information systems were demonstrated at the September focus group meeting and prompted a great deal of interest.