NCJ Number
127282
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 52 Issue: 7 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 108-110
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Alexandria, Virginia, Detention Center's Sober Living Unit houses up to 29 men and women offenders who voluntarily participate in this 90-day substance abuse program. The inmates, most of whom are addicted to crack, cocaine, and/or alcohol, do not get early release or sentence reductions as a result of participation.
Abstract
The program requires the offenders to write journals, read self-help literature, attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, share their thoughts and feelings in group settings, participate in daily counseling sessions, and discuss prevention and aftercare planning. All of the inmates are in prison because of crimes directly or indirectly related to their drug abuse. Corrections managers report that the program presents fewer confrontations and management problems than other units. Over 200 inmates have participated in the program in the past 2 years. After program completion, the inmates can apply for work-release or the jail's work force, or they can choose to stay in the program for an additional period.