NCJ Number
183584
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2000 Pages: 98-105
Date Published
June 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes Florida’s nonsecure drug treatment (NSDT) programs.
Abstract
The NSDT programs are provided by community treatment agencies under contracts with the Florida Department of Corrections. The programs provide intermediate treatment for probationers and persons on community control who abuse drugs or alcohol and need brief stabilization and controlled reintegration into the community. The programs give circuit court judges an alternative to imprisonment for substance-abusing offenders and provide those offenders more intensive supervision than ordinary outpatient counseling or short-term inpatient (28-day) treatment. The 6-month programs include drug and/or alcohol treatment (2 months) and employment/re-entry (last 4 months). Offenders live at the facility during the entire program and, for the first 30 days, are not allowed any outside contact. The intensive treatment component includes 10 hours weekly drug treatment focused on addiction education, life management skill-building and relapse prevention. The employment/re-entry component includes a minimum of 6 hours of drug treatment weekly, requires offenders to participate in treatment activities before or after work and requires them to secure full-time employment. The 1991 pilot program was deemed a success and the program has been duplicated in communities throughout Florida.