NCJ Number
180565
Date Published
1998
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video describes the Crossroads program in New York City, a community-based drug treatment program for women established as an alternative to jail.
Abstract
The program is for women with a drug abuse problem that has contributed to the development of a criminal lifestyle, which has typically stemmed from the need to support an expensive drug habit. The rationale, components, and procedures of the program are presented through narrator descriptions, staff explanations, and client comments. The women clients talk about how their drug abuse has disrupted their lives and their relationship with their children and families. They talk about the abusive circumstances of their childhood that contributed to their attraction to drugs. The program's operations are portrayed in the video, accompanied by comments by staff and clients. The program consists of group sessions and individual counseling that focus on helping women to examine and understand their feelings and behavior. This is facilitated through a nonjudgmental, supportive, caring group. The program monitors women's drug use through regular drug testing. A client's progress is monitored closely by the court. The judge is responsible for matching the client's treatment with the particular client's needs. Family members also discuss what the program means and how they are involved in the treatment process.