Problem-Solving Court Personnel Perspectives of Incentives, Sanctions, and Therapeutic Adjustments

Incentives and sanctions, and more recently therapeutic adjustments, are used in problem-solving courts (PSCs) to promote behavioral change for participants. However, little is known about how PSC team members perceive the use of these strategies. Drawing upon 20 semi-structured interviews with drug court, mental health court, and veterans’ court personnel within a midwestern jurisdiction, we explored perceptions of incentives, sanctions, and therapeutic adjustments. Nearly all personnel reported a need to increase frequency and types of incentives offered. In addition, some PSC personnel described nonjudicial team members imposing informal consequences without the judge present. Furthermore, confusion was noted between the terms “sanction” and “therapeutic adjustment.” Understanding the distinction between sanctions and therapeutic adjustments is critical for PSC program evaluation, yet greater dissemination of existing guidelines is needed. Oversight by statewide administrative entities could help ensure consistent understanding and application of PSC best practices.