EVALUATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY RELATED TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT CAMP HILL (PA) - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 15645
• Author(s): J E YOUNG
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 26 pages
• Grant Number(s): DS-338-72A
• Sponsoring Agency: Pennsylvania Governor's Justice Cmssn
• Corporate Author: Temple University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATES A PRIVATE DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT AGENCY SERVING THE HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA AREA TO PROVIDE A MORE EFFECTIVE PRISON REHABILITATIVE PROGRAM FOR DRUG/ALCOHOL RELATED OFFENDERS.

Abstract

OTHER GOALS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE HELPING PERSONS WHO HAVE REGARDED THEMSELVES AS FAILURES ACHIEVE A SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM AND MOTIVATION TOWARD BECOMING A PERSON-ORIENTED PERSON AND REDUCING THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM AMONG DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED OFFENDERS. INMATES ARE REFERRED TO THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY RELATED TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT CAMP HILL (TC-SCIC) BY THE PRISON COUNSELING UNIT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE PRISON DIRECTOR OF TREATMENT. THOSE PERSONS REFERRED ARE SCREENED BY THE TC-SCIC ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ON THE BASIS OF AGE, HISTORY OF SERIOUS DRUG ABUSE, AND LEGAL STATUS. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A TWO WEEK ORIENTATION PHASE LEADING TO A LONG TERM COMMITMENT BETWEEN THE NEW RESIDENT AND THE PROGRAM, A ONE AND A HALF TO THREE MONTH INITIAL PHASE LEADING TO THE ASSUMPTION OF MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF THE TC, A THREE TO FIVE MONTH PHASE LEADING TO RELEASE FROM PRISON AND ENTRANCE INTO A COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL RE-ENTRY PROGRAM, A TWO TO FOUR MONTH RE-ENTRY PHASE LEADING TO INDEPENDENT LIVING AND FUNCTIONING IN THE COMMUNITY WITH OUT-PATIENT SUPPORT AS NEEDED. TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PROGRAM INCLUDE DAILY GROUP THERAPY, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, VOCATIONAL COUNSELING, DAILY ONE-TO-ONE BASIC EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AND COUNSELING. TC-SCIC HAS FIRMLY ESTABLISHED A SMOOTHLY FUNCTIONING, WELL MANAGED, INNOVATIVE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM. IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS 32 DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN ADMITTED AS FULL-TIME PROGRAM RESIDENTS. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS NOTED IS LACK OF AN ADEQUATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COMPONENT. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORMALIZED PROCEDURES FOR PERIODIC TEAM AND RESIDENT RECORD REVIEW CONFERENCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)