NCJ Number
186854
Date Published
2000
Length
2 pages
Annotation
These findings summarize the results of a study examining the nature of drug throughcare for severely drug-dependent prisoners in England who were eligible for prison treatment.
Abstract
Drugs throughcare relates to the treatment and support offered to prisoners making the transition from prison to the community, and the study gauged the impact of these interventions on offender drug use and offending behavior. Study results showed most prisoners experienced drug problems before going to prison; 66 percent said they had used heroin every day in the 30 days before going to prison. Half the prisoners were offered help to obtain treatment on release, but only 11 percent had a fixed appointment with a drug agency and most were given more indirect assistance. Effective throughcare depended on multi-agency cooperation, but structural problems were identified that restricted the delivery of effective throughcare services. Four months after release, 86 percent reported they had used some form of drug. The authors conclude that, unless drug treatment is maintained in the community, offenders are likely to relapse, returning to crime and to prison. Recommendations are offered to improve drug throughcare services that focus on promoting a wider awareness of drug issues among prison officers, broadening the range of drug services available, promoting interagency collaboration in service delivery, providing drug treatment support after release, developing directories of community drug services, and facilitating direct contact between prisoners and treatment agencies. 4 references