Drug Use and Recidivism of Texas Prisoners

• NCJ Number: 124112
• Author(s): T Fabelo; L Riechers
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 4 pages
• Contract Number(s): 86-BJ-CX-K014
• Corporate Author: Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This document details the changing composition of the prison population corresponding with the nationwide focus on drug offenders and drug use.

Abstract

Drug offenders are becoming an increasingly larger percentage of overall prison admissions. Not only are there more drug offenders admitted to prison, but also there are more drug offenders admitted for a probation or parole revocation in which a new offense was involved. This increase points to the possibility that (1) the characteristics and risk potential of some drug offenders placed on community-based sanctions are not conducive to their success in this setting; (2) community-based sanctions have failed to provide the necessary supervision and intervention strategies for these offenders; or (3) community-based sanctions have not yet reached their full potential in this area. The rise in the number of drug offenders in prison calls for intervention strategies directed specifically at this offender population, such as drug rehabilitation and treatment, increased drug testing, and policies directed at removing the profitability from trafficking drugs. 4 exhibits.