Title: Can Drug Courts Improve Public Safety?

Exploring the Impact of Drug Courts on Crime

Full Citation of the Thesis Dissertation Author/s: Kathryn Marie Zafft
Publisher: University of Maryland
Date of Publication: 2014
Contributors: NA

Research Question It Covered  Can Drug Courts have an impact in

public safety?
 Are Drug Courts responsible for the
significant changes in specific types of
reported violent and property crime?
The Hypotheses Tested N/A
Variables (list the independent and  Independent
dependent variable and their - Cities/Counties
- Drug court programs
relationship)
- Yearly crime and arrest rates
- Drug arrest information
 Dependent Variables
- Reported crimes (dependent on
yearly crime and arrest rates and the
location)
- Drug court documents, evaluations
or personal correspondence
(dependent on drug court programs)
- Community wide changes in drug
crimes (dependent on Drug arrest
information)
Methodology Used Quantitative and Qualitative Methodology
Findings -Drug courts have an overall public safety benefit
with differential impacts on specific types of
crime and arrests.
-This impact may vary by type of court and
community characteristics.
-An analysis of arrest rates shows that after drug
court implementation, homicide crime rates
decreased while the rate for drug arrests
increases.
Author’s Conclusion Drug court implementation is related to
overall reductions in crime.
Comments (criticisms of theory, as to the The study was able to prove that drug court
methods, compare and contrast with implementation is connected with the reduction
of crime rates. However, it cannot be directly
other authors or sources)
concluded that crimes are due to drugs but it is
also undeniable that the illegal use of drugs has
caused a lot of problems in the community. In
addition, this study highlights the importance of
drug courts in decreasing crime rate.
 Title: Unclogging the Court Dockets
Author/s: Alfredo F. Tadiar
Full Citation of the Report Publisher: Philippine Institute of
Development Studies
Date of Publication: 1999
Contributors: NA

Research Question It Covered  What are the causes of delays in the

disposition of cases
 What are alternative measures of
unclogging court dockets?
The Hypotheses Tested N/A
Variables (list the independent and  Independent Variables
dependent variable and their - Adversary nature of the Judicial
Process
relationship)
- Constitutional and Procedural
Requirements
 Dependent Variables
- Performances of the court
administrators ( Dependent on the
adversary nature of the Judicial
Process)
- Delays in the Disposition of Cases
(Dependent on both independent
variables)
Methodology Used Qualitative Methodology
Findings - Human Failings, Constitutional and
Procedural Requirements,
Indiscriminate filing of court cases
are some of the factors which causes
the delay in the disposition of cases.

Author’s Conclusion Alternative measures which can be used in

unclogging court dockets for the benefit of
the economic society are the following:
- Increase output or case disposal
rate through specialization of
courts, strict compliance with set
periods for rendering decisions
 and simplification of complex
rules.
- Restricting Judicial Access
through: creation of small claims
court, placing of a procedural bar-
KP Law, and the creation of an
additional fora for ADR before
access.
- Divert pending cases to ADR
- Institutionalizing the ADR system
as a court annexed system and as
a separate institution
Comments (criticisms of theory, as to the The report was able to provide the causes of the
methods, compare and contrast with delay in the disposition of cases and the
alternative measures which can be utilized.
other authors or sources)
However, a thorough discussion with these
approaches and measures are needed beyond
the focus of the economic benefits.

Title: Working Children in Drugs in the

Philippines: A participatory action research
Full Citation of the Thesis Dissertation for child/ family and community
empowerment
Author/s: Emma Porio, PhD and Christine S.
Crisol
Publisher: Ateneo de Manila University
Date of Publication: 2004
Contributors: Jerry Apolonio Leonardo Estacio,
Jr., PhD Evelyn Galang Amalia Lorelia Andrea
Bolhayon Fernando Rico

Research Question It Covered  Identify and construct a profile of

children/youth involved in drug-
related activities
 Understand the pattern of
recruitment into the drug network
and the strategies utilized by drug
pushers to hooked them
  Explore how these children could be
dislodged from the network and be
part of the mainstream institutions of
work
 Identify a strategic set of policy and
program interventions to reduce the
demand for drugs
The Hypotheses Tested N/A
Variables (list the independent and  Independent Variables
dependent variable and their - Contextual factors
- Community and family structures
relationship)
- Living conditions
 Dependent Variables
- Sales and distribution of drugs
(dependent to the contextual factors
and the living conditions)
- Social networks (Dependent on the
structures of the community and the
family)
Methodology Used Qualitative Methodology
Findings -The intensive enforcement of drug laws can
decrease drug crimes
- Good practices:
- Community based-healing centers
- Training of junior anti-drug advocates
- Alternative anti-drug information
Author’s Conclusion The government plays a vital role in the
decrease of the drug crimes in the Philippines
Comments (criticisms of theory, as to the This paper was able to realize the vital part of the
methods, compare and contrast with government in the problem of drugs. However, it
failed to recognize and properly narrate the role
other authors or sources) of the Judiciary in decreasing drug crimes.
Title: A study on the current nature and
extent of drug abuse in the Philippines
Full Citation of the Thesis Dissertation Author/s: Dangerous Drugs Board
Publisher: Dangerous Drugs Board
Date of Publication: 2008
Contributors: NA

Research Question It Covered  The nature of the illegal use of drugs

in the Philippines
 To what extent is the illegal use of
drugs in the Philippines
 The Hypotheses Tested N/A
Variables (list the independent and  Independent Variables
dependent variable and their - Subjects of the survey (12,714)
- Questionnaire
relationship)
 Dependent Variables
- Extent and nature of the drug use in
the Philippines (dependent on both
independent variables)
Methodology Used Qualitative Methodology- Descriptive survey
Method
Findings -1, 344 or 10.57% respondents have tried drugs
- 11, 370 or 89.2% did not try drugs
- 1,022 or 8.03% of those who tried drugs already
stopped
-322 or 2.5 % continued their drug taking
behavior
- Region VII and Region X ranked highest among
regions with current user-respondents
Author’s Conclusion Through this study, they were able to
generate certain needs or conceptual
regulations which can address the problem
on the illegal use of drugs
Comments (criticisms of theory, as to the This paper is able to provide a glimpse on the
methods, compare and contrast with drug situation of the Philippines in the year 2008-
Arroyo Administration. We can presume that the
other authors or sources)
drug campaign of the Arroyo Administration was
intensive.

Title: A study on the current nature and

extent of drug abuse in the Philippines
Full Citation of the Thesis Dissertation Author/s: Dangerous Drugs Board
Publisher: Dangerous Drugs Board
Date of Publication: 2008
Contributors: NA

Research Question It Covered  The nature of the illegal use of drugs

in the Philippines
  To what extent is the illegal use of
drugs in the Philippines
The Hypotheses Tested N/A
Variables (list the independent and  Independent Variables
dependent variable and their - Subjects of the survey (12,714)
- Questionnaire
relationship)
 Dependent Variables
- Extent and nature of the drug use in
the Philippines (dependent on both
independent variables)
Methodology Used Qualitative Methodology- Descriptive survey
Method
Findings -1, 344 or 10.57% respondents have tried drugs
- 11, 370 or 89.2% did not try drugs
- 1,022 or 8.03% of those who tried drugs already
stopped
-322 or 2.5 % continued their drug taking
behavior
- Region VII and Region X ranked highest among
regions with current user-respondents
Author’s Conclusion Through this study, they were able to
generate certain needs or conceptual
regulations which can address the problem
on the illegal use of drugs
Comments (criticisms of theory, as to the This paper is able to provide a glimpse on the
methods, compare and contrast with drug situation of the Philippines in the year 2008-
Arroyo Administration. We can presume that the
other authors or sources)
drug campaign of the Arroyo Administration was
intensive.