NCJ Number
114212
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report describes the inmate drug treatment program begun in 1978 at the Hinseberg Prison for Women, Sweden's only national prison for women, and presents the findings of a followup study of 80 women who took part in the program from 1979-81.
Abstract
The program's main goal is to offer inmates a drug-free environment during the 1-2 months they typically stay in detention. The program consists of work or study, physical training, recreation, and planning for life after release from prison. The data for the followup study came from offenders' individual records for their prison and parole supervision periods. Results revealed that nearly half were age 25 or under upon entering prison. Most had completed elementary school, but only a few had further education or vocational training. Few had held a job for 1 year or longer, and half had been in prison at least once before. The 80 inmates had 81 stays in the program, of which 42 were completed according to plan. Urinalyses revealed that most of the inmates remained drug free during incarceration. During the 2-year followup period, half the women recidivated and were sentenced to prison and probation. Nearly 90 percent of the recidivists abused drugs or alcohol, while 61 percent of those not resentenced had no documented drug abuse. The treatment program also improved the social climate for inmates and staff of the entire prison. Data tables