This guide highlights useful results from four studies that comprised the Strengthening the Foundation for Drug Court Research project. NPC staff conducted one of the studies: Health Risk Prevention in Adult Treatment Courts.

Strengthening the Foundation for Drug Court Research

NPC honors our founder and longtime President, Mike Finigan. Mike was involved in research and evaluation in social sciences for over 30 years, with an emphasis on legal systems and substance use prevention and treatment, and became internationally known as an expert in treatment courts. He was recognized as a “Science Giant” by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals in 2015 for his groundbreaking studies of treatment court programs and for developing a group of research staff who have carried on this work. In January 2015, Mike retired from NPC after 25 years of service. Mike spent his retirement years traveling, continuing his lifelong love of learning history, and enjoying his grandchildren.

Mike’s work included a national study of Family Treatment Drug Courts, evaluation of the Multnomah County (Oregon) drug court, a study of drug courts and Medicaid managed behavioral health care, evaluation of the effects of Proposition 36 for Santa Clara County in California, an evaluation of CSAP-funded State Incentive Grant for the state of Oregon, an evaluation of a CMHS/CSAT-funded jail diversion programs for individuals with co-occurring disorders, and a study of a CSAT-funded juvenile justice network intervention for adolescents with substance abuse problems. Additionally, he directed an evaluation of the STOP Drug Court Diversion Program and an evaluation of societal outcomes and cost savings of drug and alcohol treatment in the state of Oregon.

Mike earned a Ph.D. in Sociology in 1979, founded the Social Science Research Center at the University of Wisconsin in 1982, and was a professor in Sociology at Willamette University. In 1989, he founded Northwest Professional Consortium, Inc. (NPC Research).

J. Mackin, L. Pappacena, R. Kagan

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T. Perkins, B. Lee, J. Mackin, D. Donovan, S.C. Rushing, C. Caughlan, A. Gchachu Kakusha, L. Walker

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NPC Research has produced newsletters featuring findings and insights relevant to our research, evaluation, technical assistance, and trainings. The newsletter is currently on hiatus.

NPC News Vol. 5, Issue 1 (January 2018)

NPC News Vol. 4, Issue 4 (June 2017)

NPC News Vol. 4, Issue 3 (February 2017)

NPC News Vol. 4, Issue 2 (July 2016)

NPC News Vol. 4, Issue 1 (January 2016)

NPC News Vol. 3, Issue 4 (September 2015)

NPC News Vol. 3, Issue 3 (June 2015)

NPC News Vol. 3, Issue 2 (March 2015)

Chad Rodi, a Senior Research Associate with NPC Research, recently co-authored two articles published in the Child Welfare Journal. One is a descriptive study of the Children Affected by Methamphetamine (CAM) grant program, a federally funded effort to improve outcomes through the addition of targeted interventions for 1,940 families, including 2,596 adults and 4,245 children involved in 12 diverse Family Treatment Drug Courts (FTDCs) located across six U.S. states. The majority were children of parents with a primary methamphetamine use disorder. The other article is a descriptive study of the Children Affected by Methamphetamine (CAM) grant program, a federally funded effort to improve outcomes through the addition of targeted interventions for 1,940 families, including 2,596 adults and 4,245 children involved in 12 diverse Family Treatment Drug Courts (FTDCs) located across six U.S. states. The majority were children of parents with a primary methamphetamine use disorder. Learn more about the articles and Dr. Rodi.

Dr. Michael Finigan, Founder/Owner and Past President (retired) of NPC Research, was recognized as a “Science Giant” by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) on July 30, 2015, for his ground-breaking studies of drug court programs and for developing a group of research staff who have carried on this work. Continue reading →

In January 2015, Dr. Michael Finigan, company founder and former President, and his wife, Veronica Roth-Finigan, who was the company’s Vice President of Finance, retired after 25 years of service. NPC’s three Vice Presidents assumed leadership of the firm through a collaborative management model as Co-Presidents. Each has specific responsibilities in addition to sharing overall leadership and management.

Dr. Shannon M. Carey
Co-President
Director of Development

 

Dr. Juliette R. Mackin
Co-President
Director of Quality and Training

 

Jerod M. Tarte, M.A.
Co-President
Director of Finance and Operations

Along with the leadership transition at the start of 2015, the company began a transition to employee ownership. NPC will maintain the company focus on policy relevance and program improvement; dedication to high-quality services; cultural responsiveness; and family friendly, flexible, and caring workplace. These changes will reinforce employee engagement and commitment to our purpose and clients.

NPC, in collaboration with the Center for Court Innovation, recently completed a study in New York that examined the impact of the Rockefeller Drug Law Reform on judicial diversion. Our research found that the Rockefeller Drug Law Reform increased court-ordered treatment participation, reduced incarceration and recidivism among those treated, and increased taxpayer savings. The law, adopted in April 2009, eliminated mandatory prison sentences in New York State for most felony drug offenders and sought to link more felony-level drug and property offenders to treatment through judicial diversion. See the report and fact sheet.