NCJ Number
57543
Date Published
Unknown
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM (DATP), A JAIL-BASED ADDICT TREATMENT INITIATIVE OF THE INGHAM COUNTY JAIL IN MASON, MICH., IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
STAFFED BY A PROGRAM DIRECTOR, THREE THERAPISTS, A PSYCHIATRIST, A JAIL PHYSICIAN, AND A CONSULTING ATTORNEY, DATP SERVICES ABOUT 300 PATIENTS A YEAR. RUN FROM THE INGHAM COUNTY JAIL, DATP MAINTAINS AN AVERAGE CASELOAD OF 120 PATIENTS (ABOUT 70 IN JAIL AND 50 IN THE COMMUNITY) AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE JAIL IS SITUATED IN A 15-ACRE COMPOUND WITH A STATIC CAPACITY OF 250 INMATES AND A YEARLY DYNAMIC CASELOAD OF 5,000. INDIVIDUALS IN THE PROGRAM JUDGED NOT TO BE SECURITY RISKS, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF SERVICES IN ADDITION TO THE ADDICT PROGRAM, INCLUDING GENERAL EDUCATION, PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOLISM. THE INTAKE COORDINATOR AT THE FACILITY REFERS ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF INCOMING OFFENDERS TO DATP. ANOTHER 22 PERCENT OF THE OFFENDERS IN DATP ARE MANDATORILY PROBATED TO THE PROGRAM. BECAUSE VOLUNTARY AND COERCIVE APPROACHES ARE USED IN DATP, PROBATION ORDER AND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES ARE HIGHLY INSTRUMENTAL IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS. WHILE MOST INPATIENT THERAPY INVOLVES THE USE OF CONFRONTATION INTERVIEWS, THE OUTPATIENT PHASE OF THE PROGRAM RELIES ON CONTACTING THE PATIENT IN THE COMMUNITY. URINALYSES, AGENCY MEETINGS, AND JOB PLACEMENT INFORMATION PROVIDE THE STATISTICAL EVIDENCE OF POSTJAIL RELEASE PERFORMANCE. BY USING CONTRACT AGREEMENTS WITH MANY EXISTING COMMUNITY AGENCIES, JOBS, HOUSING, TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND HIGHER EDUCATION ARE PROVIDED FOR THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE REENTRY INTO THE COMMUNITY IS HIGHLY STRUCTURED AND THE INTENSE MONITORING OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S ACTIVITIES WHEN HE OR SHE LEAVES JAIL ENHANCES THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS. THESE VARIABLES, RIGID COMMUNITY STRUCTURE, CONTRACTS WITH AGENCIES AND PATIENTS, OBJECTIVE TREATMENT PLANS, AND STRICT ENFORCEMENT, APPEAR TO BE CORNERSTONES FOR THE SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF ADDICTS. STATISTICS INDICATE THAT MONITORED ADMISSIONS AND EXPLICIT EXPECTATIONS PRODUCE POSITIVE RESULTS WHEN COMPARING DATP AND NON-DATP PATIENTS. (KBL)