Juvenile drug treatment courts (JDTCs) continue to be popular. However, results of a recent meta-analysis raised doubts regarding their effectiveness over traditional juvenile justice system processing. The objective of this study was to systematically review the qualitative and quantitative evidence related to the inner workings of JDTCs to identify ways to improve outcomes. We conducted an extensive systematic search for process and implementation studies, resulting in 59 studies that met eligibility criteria. We used meta-aggregation methods to extract 477 study findings and categorized the findings thematically. We report on a subset of findings within four thematic categories containing the largest number of methodologically credible findings: (1) family members as stakeholders in the JDTC process, (2) standards for ensuring accountability and youth compliance with court expectations, such as the consistent application of behavioral contingencies, (3) the availability of community and school services, and (4) the various needs of JDTC clients, such as mental health treatment. Based on these findings, we suggest a modified causal change model for JDTCs that extends the theoretical framework for JDTCs to incorporate improving youth psychosocial functioning as an important outcome. Implications for the role of JDTCs within the juvenile justice system are discussed.

中文翻译：

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实施少年毒品治疗法院：过程评估的元汇总

少年药物治疗法院（JDTC）仍然很受欢迎。但是，最近的荟萃分析结果使人们怀疑它们在处理传统少年司法制度上的有效性。这项研究的目的是系统地审查与JDTC内部工作有关的定性和定量证据，以确定改善结果的方法。我们对流程和实施研究进行了广泛的系统搜索，结果得出符合资格标准的59项研究。我们使用元汇总方法提取了477个研究结果，并对结果进行了主题分类。我们报告了四个主题类别中的一部分调查结果，其中包含数量最多的方法学上可靠的调查结果：（1）作为JDTC流程的利益相关者的家庭成员，（2）确保问责制和青年遵守法院期望的标准，例如行为习惯的持续应用；（3）社区和学校服务的可用性；（4）JDTC客户的各种需求，例如心理健康治疗。基于这些发现，我们建议对JDTC进行修正的因果变化模型，以扩展JDTC的理论框架，以纳入改善青年心理社会功能的重要成果。讨论了JDTC在少年司法系统中的作用。我们建议为JDTC建立修正的因果变化模型，该模型应扩展JDTC的理论框架，以纳入改善青年心理社会功能的重要成果。讨论了JDTC在少年司法系统中的作用。我们建议为JDTC建立修正的因果变化模型，该模型应扩展JDTC的理论框架，以纳入改善青年心理社会功能的重要成果。讨论了JDTC在少年司法系统中的作用。