NCJ Number
66066
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES A STRATEGY BY THE DELAWARE BUREAU OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TO SYSTEMATICALLY IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES.
Abstract
THE STRATEGY IS IN THREE STAGES AND MUST BE PREFACED WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF TREATMENT'S RESOURCES, A MAJOR PART OF THIS PROCESS BEING IDENTIFICATION OF POSSIBLE AREAS OF COOPERATION WITH THE AGENCIES. CAPABILITIES OF TREATMENT SERVICE DELIVERY AND THE DIMENSIONS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFERRALS TO THE TREATMENT SYSTEM SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD. AREAS CAUSING MOST FREQUENT COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED. PRIORITIES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR CONTACTING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, AND THE TARGET AGENCY SHOULD BE INFORMALLY SENSITIZED TO THE NEED FOR IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS. STEPS FOR DEVELOPING COOPERATIVE STRATEGIES MAKE UP THE SECOND PHASE. THESE INCLUDE SHARING MUTUAL CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE TOP PRIORITY AGENCY; DEVELOPING A GRAPHIC AND NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION FOR THE TARGET AGENCY OF ITS PROCESS AND SERVICE FLOW; AND IDENTIFYING TREATMENT INTERVENTION OPPORTUNITIES CONSONANT WITH THE AGENCY'S CLIENT FLOW. THE FINAL PHASE EXPANDS COMMUNICATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH SUCCESSFUL REPETITION IN OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES OF THE COMMUNICATION OUTREACH PROCESS. PERIODIC 'TROUBLESHOOTING' MEETINGS AND REDUCTION OF DUPLICATE SERVICES ARE SEGMENTS OF THIS PHASE, ALSO. IN DELAWARE, THE STRATEGY PRODUCED INCREASED ACCESS TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, CLARIFICATION OF CLIENT FLOW IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND TREATMENT SYSTEMS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICE DELIVERY AGREEMENTS. REPLICABILITY WILL DEPEND ON SUCH KEY CONSIDERATIONS AS STAFF CAPABILITY, TREATMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHARACTERISTICS, GEOGRAPHY, AND RESOURCES. FLOW CHARTS ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)