NCJ Number
58578
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE CENTER'S BUREAU OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AS PREPARED BY THE DELAWARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING COMMISSION, IS PRESENTED; RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED.
Abstract
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE CENTER OPENED IN JUNE 1978. ITS PURPOSES WERE TO PROVIDE COORDINATION OF REFERRALS BETWEEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AGENCIES AND BUREAU OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITIES, TO CONDUCT EVALUATIONS ON REFERRALS, AND TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON REFERRAL SOURCES. FROM JUNE 1978 THROUGH OCTOBER 1978, THE CENTER RECEIVED 177 REFERRALS; 123 EVALUATIONS WERE COMPLETED. ALTHOUGH IT WAS A NEW OPERATION, THE CENTER APPEARED TO BE PROVIDING NEEDED SERVICES. REFERRAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY JUDGES, WERE GENERALLY PLEASED WITH THE PROGRAM. HOWEVER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SEVERAL CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE TO IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS. SOME TYPE OF SUPPORT PERSONNEL, SUCH AS A RECEPTIONIST, SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE CENTER. CENTER ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE EXPANDED FROM SIMPLY COORDINATING REFERRALS TO PROVIDING MONITORING SERVICES TO THE BUREAU OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHERS CONCERNING THE VARIOUS SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAMS WITHIN THE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER SHOULD MODIFY ITS MASTER LOG TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: CLIENT STAGES IN THE SYSTEM; A 10-DAY FOLLOW-UP DATE; DATE REFERRAL SOURCE FEEDBACK; REASONS FOR NOT RECOMMENDING TREATMENT; AND TREATMENT RECOMMENDED BY THE CENTER. ADDITIONAL ITEMS MAY ALSO BE NEEDED. THE EVALUATION UNIT OF THE DELAWARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING COMMISSION SHOULD CONDUCT A FOLLOW-UP TO THIS REPORT IN JUNE 1979. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER SHOULD PROVIDE MORE FEEDBACK DETAILING THE CLIENT'S PROBLEM TO REFERRAL SOURCES, RATHER THAN SIMPLY STATING A RECOMMENDED TREATMENT PROGRAM. FINALLY, THE CENTER SHOULD OBTAIN AN OFFICE IN THE PUBLIC BUILDING. (LWM)