COMMUNITY-CENTERED DRUG PROGRAM - FIRST SAMPLE FINDINGS

• NCJ Number: 32580
• Author(s): C F ROBERTS; A S SWITZER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 44 pages
• Corporate Author: California Dept of the Youth Authority
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO INVOLVE SERIOUS YOUTH AUTHORITY DRUG ABUSERS IN COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FURTHER DRUG AND LAW INVOLVEMENT.

Abstract

THIS PROGRAM HAS THREE COMPONENTS: AN IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR SCREENING OUT SERIOUS DRUG ABUSERS; MOTIVATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN ALL INSTITUTIONS AND A PRE-RELEASE CENTER TO EXPOSE WARDS TO COMMUNITY PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES; AND PROVISION OF MAXIMUM ACCESS TO AND INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR WARDS ON PAROLE. THIS PROGRAM EVALUATION IS BASED ON A REPRESENTATIVE TEN PERCENT (163) SAMPLE OF DRUG ABUSERS IDENTIFIED INTO THE PROGRAM WHILE ON PAROLE OR IN AN INSTITUTION AND RELEASED TO PAROLE DURING THE PERIOD DECEMBER 1972 THROUGH JULY 1973. THE RESULTS OF FOLLOWUP CONTACTS EIGHT, TEN, AND 24 MONTHS AFTER RELEASE ON PAROLE ARE REPORTED AND DISCUSSED. STUDY FINDINGS REVEALED THAT MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AS MANY WARDS BECAME INVOLVED WITH DRUG PROGRAMS WHILE ON PAROLE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PROGRAM. THOSE WHO BECAME PROGRAMINVOLVED DEMONSTRATED A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER FAILURE RATE (35 PERCENT TO 52 PERCENT AT 24 MONTHS) THAN DID WARDS WHO WERE NOT INVOLVED WITH DRUG PROGRAMS. THE DIFFERENTIAL IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM WAS FOUND TO BE GREATEST AMONG THOSE WARDS WHO WERE MALE, 21 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER, AND MORE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN DRUG ABUSE AND DELINQUENCY.