This technical assistance report recommends ways to improve the management of drug-addicted persons in the criminal justice system, so as to reduce recidivism.
In many cases, criminal offenses stem from the disease of addiction rather than a criminal proclivity. Consequently, addiction treatment is needed in order to prevent reoffending. The first of five recommendations in this report is that criminal justice professionals be instructed in the nature of addiction and how addiction treatment reduces recidivism. A second recommendation is that criminal justice personnel be provided with a comprehensive set of guidelines for assessment, service planning, placement, continued stay, and discharge of people with drug addiction. Another recommendation is that when mandating justice-involved individuals to addiction treatment, ensure that policies and procedures include multi-dimensional assessment, individualized and outcomes-driven services; and sanctions and incentives that promote accountable participation and sustainable change. This report also recommends that every stage of criminal justice processing be viewed as an opportunity for diagnosis, treatment initiation, and linkage to sustainable continuing care for substance-use disorder. The final recommendation is to ensure that drug treatment in criminal justice settings meets community standards of care and is based on proven treatment techniques that have effectively addressed the identified needs of a given offender based on a reliable assessment.