Examining Access, Outcomes, and the Experiences of Black Women: Improving Racial Equity in Adult Drug Treatment Court

Black women face compounded systemic barriers in the criminal legal system because of oppression and erasure of their racial and gendered identities. Although Adult Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) are designed to divert individuals with substance use disorders from incarceration with the alternative of therapeutic intervention, Black women, compared to their Black male and White female counterparts, remain underrepresented and experience less favorable outcomes despite their increased presence in the criminal legal system due to drug related offenses. Using an intersectional Black Feminist framework, the current study critically examines the processes and structural barriers that contribute to Black women’s limited access and success in DTCs. The following study is conducted in two phases: Phase one consists of two process reviews of two Adult DTCs in the Southwest along with descriptive analyses that detain the enrollment and outcome data for Black women in each court. Phase two explores the lived experiences of former and current Black women participants from four different DTCs through a focus group and an interview. The use of a focus group and an interview centers Black women’s experiences to highlight their narratives that are typically overlooked in DTC effectiveness literature Findings demonstrate structural inequalities, often influenced by implicit bias, eligibility criteria, and inadequate considerations of Black women’s unique needs, in referral decisions and court processes that impact the enrollment and successful completion of Black women in DTC. Qualitative findings reveal themes of unmet needs, culturally incompetent care, and institutional marginalization. This research contributes to the understanding of racial and gender disparities in DTC processes, and provides recommendations for culturally competent, gender responsive practices. By centering Black women’s narratives, this study aims to inform policy and practice that improve equity and inclusion in DTC to reduce recidivism and support long-term recovery.