NCJ Number
159063
Journal
Contemporary Drug Problems Dated: (Winter 1978) Pages: 533-556
Date Published
1978
Length
24 pages
Annotation
The diversion of drug offenders has become a widespread social phenomenon, and the rapid expansion of the principal Federal drug offender diversion model, Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC), attests to the popularity of the diversion concept.
Abstract
The TASC program was initiated by the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention in late 1972 and the program was subsequently managed by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. The July 1978 TASC Status Report indicated that 65 communities were in some stage of planning for or implementing TASC projects. This report also disclosed that more than 38,000 drug offenders had entered treatment through the TASC system. A survey of State drug offender diversion authorities found that drug offender diversion authorities were common (41 States) and relatively similar in design. The primary drug diversion authority was the Uniform Controlled Substances Act conditional discharge (18 States), and 31 States had some form of drug offense diversion authority. In short, drug offender diversion provisions were included in most State penal codes. States consistently responded to the drug abuse phenomenon by enacting diversion legislation, and several jurisdictions fashioned reasonably comprehensive approaches to drug offender diversion. A list of State diversion authorities is appended. 10 notes and 2 tables