NCJ Number
197659
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: 2002 Pages: 1-32
Date Published
2002
Length
32 pages
Annotation
After describing the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program at the South Idaho Correctional Institution (SICI), this paper presents findings from a survey that questioned inmates about their perceptions of the program.
Abstract
The RSAT program was created to treat substance-abusing parole violators. It is a 9-to-12-month treatment regimen that addresses both drug addiction and criminality. The structured therapeutic environment uses three treatment modalities: cognitive self-change, behavioral modification, and 12-step programming. The survey reported in this paper focused on how the inmate participants perceived the content of the various components of the program and the delivery of that content; how the inmate coordinators and staff treatment personnel were viewed; whether the inmates thought the tools of a true therapeutic community were present and operating well; whether communication lines were open and positive; and their perception of the quality of services delivered and the likely effect of those services on participants. The survey found that those inmates enrolled in the first and/or third phase of the treatment tended to be more positive in their perceptions of program content, the therapeutic atmosphere, and the quality of services provided than were participants in the middle (second) phase of treatment. A negative relationship was found between those participants with the most months in the program and their perceptions of it; those with the most serious pattern of alcohol abuse tended to perceive the program more positively. The positive attitudes of the participants in the third phase of the program may be due to their opportunity to work as inmate coordinators and engage in work off-site. 6 tables and 77 references