NCJ Number
207131
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 68 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2004 Pages: 10-14
Date Published
June 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined the impact of drug treatment services and continuity of care among a sample of 26,813 drug-involved offenders.
Abstract
While a sizable percentage of State and Federal prisoners in 1997 were considered drug-involved, only about 20 percent of them received treatment within 6 months of release. The correctional industry has recognized the need to provide prison-based treatment, aftercare services, and ensure a continuity of care for drug-involved offenders. The current study analyzed the impact of an agreement between the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC) and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) concerning the transition of care from the BOP to the AOUSC for drug-involved offenders upon their release. Treatment received by 26,813 individuals released from the BOP in 1999 to the supervision of a United States probation officer is analyzed in terms of prison-based services received, outpatient drug treatment during halfway house placement, and treatment provided while under post-release supervision. Data were obtained from two databases: the BOP’s Sentry database and the AOUSC’s National Treatment Database. Results of hierarchical linear modeling revealed that approximately 20 percent of the offenders released in 1999 received in-prison residential drug treatment (RDAP) or transitional services (TS) during halfway house placement. Of those who received treatment, over 50 percent completed both RDAP and TS. Race had no impact on whether an offender received treatment services and prior felony convictions positively impacted the chances of receiving treatment. The BOP-AOUSC partnership to offer continuity of care to drug-involved inmates, while effective, could be improved by the development of a policy that would decrease the variation across districts in the provision of aftercare treatment and continuity of care. Tables, references