NCJ Number
162256
Journal
Perspectives Dated: (1991)
Date Published
1991
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This paper explores issues related to the delivery of substance abuse treatment services in the criminal justice system.
Abstract
The war on drugs and the increased attention to substance abuse treatment have created expectations about the criminal justice system's ability to address offenders' substance abuse problems. These expectations have been translated into programmatic efforts to deliver substance abuse treatment services to offenders. While these programs are designed to provide services, they often do not change the environment for providing these services. To understand how the criminal justice system and treatment systems interface, it is necessary to understand environmental issues relevant to the justice system: constitutional safeguards; behavioral change; sanctions; and technical violations from probation/parole/intermediate sanctions. At the same time, the treatment system emphasizes clients' motivation for change; willingness to participate for a minimum time; willingness to confront certain factors of the process such as breaking down denial; and tailoring services to individual clients' needs. The paper suggests how treatment services can be integrated into the criminal justice system. References