Rethinking Court-Sanctioned Reintegration Processes: Redemption Rituals as an Alternative to the Drug Court Graduation

This research-based position paper offers critical examination and critique of the drug court (DC) graduation model and outlines an alternative approach. To enhance reconfiguration of the current DC graduation system, we propose a redemption-oriented framework that we believe is better aligned with the rehabilitation literature and reintegrative shaming theory. These conceptual underpinnings cohere with restorative justice and together represent a useful interpretive perspective for examining current DC practices in the United States. They also align with the goals we believe redemption rituals should elevate. This is based on four main elements of redemption rituals: achievement; co-ordination of care; status elevation; and moral inclusion. We operationalise these elements by identifying two constituent factors of each. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications for DC practice and recommendations for future research in this area.