Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the perceptions of the role of accountability court coordinators in Georgia. Past research has focused on different rehabilitation programs impact of recidivism. This study is unique because it explores the role of accountability courts specifically. This study answered the following research questions: “What are the perceptions of coordinators of accountability courts in Georgia? What do coordinators of accountability courts in Georgia discover about the challenges participants face in completing the program? How do coordinators of accountability courts in Georgia describe their experiences with addressing recidivism?” The qualitative strategy used in this study was phenomenology. The sampling strategy to recruit participants was snowball sampling. Participants were 3 key informants who were coordinators of different accountability courts across the state of Georgia. The data collection method included interviews. Validation strategies included peer review and rich thick descriptions. Results were coded into the following themes: Support systems, building relationships, and efficacy. The findings indicated that coordinators view these themes as crucial to the success of accountability courts and their participants. Implications of the results for future studies include examining the perspective of participants in accountability court programs. The results of this study can contribute to the field of forensic psychology and help initiate positive change for accountability courts and rehabilitation.
Keywords: recidivism, accountability courts, rehabilitation, forensic, psychology