NCJ Number
174439
Date Published
March 1998
Length
122 pages
Annotation
A consensus meeting held in March 1998 brought together more than 250 experts from around the country to affirm what is known about effective drug treatment and rehabilitation in the criminal justice system, identify obstacles to the establishment of effective practices, and explore gaps in current scientific and technical knowledge.
Abstract
The participants included researchers, practitioners, and elected officials. An introduction by the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy notes that the dialogue was motivated by the knowledge that drug abusers are responsible for a disproportionate percentage of violent and property crime and that drug-related crime claims an increasing proportion of police and corrections resources. It also notes that participants recognized that incarcerating offenders and ignoring their drug problems simply delays their return to the community, where they will probably further harm themselves and society. Participants focused on treatment and rehabilitation in prisons and jails, community alternatives to incarceration, and post-incarceration transitional services and supervision. They also examined issues related to special groups such as females and people with dual diagnoses and policy and practical issues involved operating a statewide program of treatment and rehabilitation for drug-dependent offenders. Photographs and appended conference agenda, workgroup summary reports, participant list, and list of members of the conference planning committee