NCJ Number
153463
Date Published
1995
Length
34 pages
Annotation
Inmate drug treatment through the use of therapeutic communities in three Virginia correctional facilities was evaluated using data on the 163 participants who left the programs in 1993.
Abstract
The programs provided a highly structured residential format. Participation is voluntary. Most of the staff are certified substance abuse counselors. Participants receive individual and group therapy within a cognitive/behavioral treatment environment. Group sessions address many topics, including the 12-step process, drug education, anger management, and relapse prevention. The analysis revealed that 46 participants (28 percent) completed the program, including 21 who were returned to the general prison population, three went to work release, and 22 who were released on parole. Of the 117 participants who did not complete the program, 77 either quit or were dismissed, and 40 were released on parole or work release before they could finish the program. The amount of time spent in treatment ranged from 3 months to 3 years. Results revealed three issues in need of further examination: the process by which inmates are assigned, the compromising of progress by returning graduates to the general prison population, and the lack of aftercare services. Actions recommended to improve the program include specifying the minimum and maximum amounts of time in the program and criteria for success, therapeutic community training for other correctional staff, the use of an objective screening tool, examination of screening criteria, giving high priority to aftercare services, and tracking of graduates to determine the program's impact. Tables, figures, and 18 references