Date of Award

5-6-2023

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Toni Pauls

Second Advisor

Dr. Kelly Brown

Scholarship Domain(s)

Scholarship of Discovery

Abstract

Despite a negative stigma about drug treatment courts, researchers have indicated that drug courts are essential to reducing recidivism and helping offenders reintegrate into various communities. Although there is extensive research concerning recidivism in men, less is known about recidivism in women, leaving a gap in the literature on formerly incarcerated women and their experiences completing drug treatment court, the role of familial support system, and recidivism. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to understand how previously incarcerated women who had completed a drug treatment program described the role of family support systems in preventing recidivism. Five formerly incarcerated women who had completed drug court in Central Illinois participated in the current study. Semi-structured interviews were used to generate rich, detailed descriptions of the participant's experiences. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data for the current study, and the content from the interview transcripts was analyzed to identify themes. The findings included three themes: starting sober, becoming an addict, and returning to being sober. Overall, the women described the role of family support as changing throughout their drug treatment court journey. All participants craved family support before, during, and after drug court; whether they received it or not, they remained arrest-free. Further phenomenological research would help illuminate the reasons behind the families' decisions and the participants starting drugs at a young age.

Key Findings

Through phenomenological research, the researcher concluded all participants craved family support before, during, and after drug court; whether they received it or not, they remained arrest-free. The support changed due to choices within and beyond the participant's control.

Comments

Further phenomenological research would help illuminate the reasons behind the families' decisions and the participants starting drugs at a young age. Also, more research should be conducted on the different forms of family support that would likely impact outcomes beyond recidivism.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Professional Biography

Dr. Cantrell Ward holds an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in corrections as well as, a graduate degree in Criminal/ Social Justice. Dr. Ward has worked in law enforcement for over 10 years. As a result of earning her doctorate in education through this project, she intends to continue working diligently, helping individuals through addiction.

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