Confronting the Cycle of Addiction and Recidivism

• NCJ Number: 194245
• Author(s): Carey Dunn; Angela Bellizzi; David Massey; Ola Rech; Brian Weinstein
• Date Published: June 2001
• Length: 153 pages
• Corporate Author: New York State Cmssn on Drugs and the Courts
• Sale Source: New York State Cmssn on Drugs and the Courts
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

After reviewing the context for New York State's response to the cycle of drug addiction and recidivism, this report recommends a strategy for developing a plan for a statewide delivery of drug treatment tailored to the needs and preferences of each jurisdiction.

Abstract

Section One of the report provides the historical context for the current criminal-justice-based treatment effort and outlines the scope of the current drug-crime problem, including statistics on the number of drug arrests and dispositions, as well as the financial and other effects on the courts. The second section describes the evolution of the current criminal-justice-based treatment initiatives that are now underway in the State. It discusses the evidence of the success of such programs, along with the financial and other benefits that can be realized from successful drug treatment. Section Three presents a comprehensive survey and evaluation of current treatment efforts in New York State. These include drug treatment courts; traditional alternative-to-incarceration programs; drug treatment in the family and juvenile courts; prosecutor-sponsored efforts; and probation-based programs. The fourth section discusses issues that are specific to New York City's criminal courts. Section Five reviews the long-running debate about the State's mandatory sentencing laws and presents a recommendation concerning one of these laws' provisions. The concluding section presents the New York State Commission on Drugs and the Courts' conclusions and recommendations. The Commission recommends a statewide screening of all criminal defendants to identify nonviolent addicts who may be eligible for treatment; an indepth assessment and drug testing of those who are eligible and willing to participate in treatment in exchange for a favorable case disposition; diversion to appropriate treatment in drug courts or other treatment-based programs; supervision and monitoring of clients; and continued drug testing and strict systems of sanctions and rewards. Similar approaches are recommended for the supervision of addicted parents in family courts. Appended selected data and a relevant legislative proposal