NCJ Number
63338
Date Published
1978
Length
25 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY OF ALCOHOL-TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS PRESENTED, INCLUDING OBSERVATIONS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE SURVEY SOUGHT TO GATHER INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF ALCOHOLISM PROBLEMS IN THE FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM, TO BRING AN AWARENESS TO THOSE INVOLVED IN ALL AREAS OF CORRECTIONS OF THE ILLNESS OF ALCOHOLISM, AND TO PRODUCE GUIDELINES THAT WILL PROVIDE A MEANS TO REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION ON A CONTINUING BASIS. A TOTAL OF 41 INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTERS, RESPONDED TO QUESTIONNAIRES, AND 28 WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR IDENTIFYING INMATE ALCOHOLICS. THESE PROCEDURES ARE SELF-REFERRALS, COURT REFERRALS, AND CLASSIFICATION TEAM REFERRALS. A TOTAL OF 35 INSTITUTIONS WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING PROGRAMS IN OPERATION. THEIR PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO TEACH PARTICIPANTS THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY, AND TO LEARN HOW TO COPE WITH THESE PROBLEMS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. INMATES PARTICIPATE IN AA MEETINGS, AT LEAST 1 MEETING A WEEK, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 25 INMATES PER MEETING. PROGRAMS ARE USUALLY OF THE AA MODEL, WITH VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMS. A TOTAL OF EIGHT INSTITUTIONS HAVE A UNIT SPECIALIZING IN TREATING ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY PROBLEMS. THESE UNITS ARE SET UP WITH A PERMANENT STAF ASSIGNED TO THE INMATES WHO ARE INVOLVED. IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STARTING SUCH PROGRAMS ARE GIVEN, AS WELL AS GRAPHIC DATA. (PRG)