NCJ Number
30493
Date Published
1974
Length
223 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS DETOXIFICATION PROGRAM WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO REDUCE CORRECTIONAL COSTS AND PUBLIC INEBRIATE ARRESTS BY 50 PERCENT OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD, AND TO PROVIDE DETOXIFICATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES.
Abstract
THIS EVALUATION OF THE DETOXIFICATION PROGRAM INCLUDES: 1) DESCRIPTIVE DATA ON THE CENTER OPERATIONS AND ITS RELATIONS WITH OTHER AGENCIES; 2) REVIEW OF THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY AND INVOLUNTARY ADMISSIONS OF REPEATERS OR NON-REPEATERS AND NUMBER REFERRED AND REPORTED TO AFTERCARE PROGRAMS; 3) DESCRIPTION OF CLIENT SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS; 4) MEASURES OF THE IMPACT OF DIVERSION OF THESE OFFENDERS ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; AND 5) MEASURES OF GOAL ACHIEVEMENT. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CENTER AVERAGED ABOUT 700 ADMISSIONS PER MONTH. RESULTS SHOWED THAT AFTER THE OPENING OF THE CENTER, BOTH PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS ARRESTS AND TIME AND MONEY SPENT ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE HANDLING OF PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS OFFENDERS DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY. CLIENTS WERE GENERALLY OF LOW ECONOMIC STATUS AND HAD HISTORIES OF PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS ARRESTS. ETHNIC AND RACIAL MINORITIES WERE HIGHER IN THE CLIENT POPULATION THAN IN THE COUNTY POPULATION. THE CENTER'S VALUE TO CLIENTS COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED, SINCE THE USE OF TWO INDICATORS OF SUCCESS - RECIDIVISM AND THE RATE OF INVOLVEMENT WITH ALCOHOL AFTERCARE PROGRAMS PROVED INCONCLUSIVE. IT WAS RECOMMENDED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT APPROPRIATE AFTERCARE SERVICES BE DEVELOPED, THAT CLIENTS BE HELD NO LONGER THAN NECESSARY, AND THAT THE DETOXIFICATION CENTER OPERATE ON A SOCIAL RATHER THAN MEDICAL MODEL. NUMEROUS STATISTICS ARE PROVIDED.