Establishing Partnerships Between Correctional Agencies and University Researchers to Enhance Substance Abuse Treatment Initiatives

• NCJ Number: 221182
• Journal: Corrections Today Volume: 69 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2007 Pages: 42-45,67
• Author(s): Michele Stanton-Tindall; John D. Rees; Carrie B. Oser; Erin McNees; Jennifer Palmer; Carl Leukefeld
• Date Published: December 2007
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article describes how a partnership between the Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC) and the University of Kentucky's Center on Drug and Alcohol Research (CDAR) has increased and enhanced opportunities for the treatment of incarcerated substance abusers.

Abstract

Three strategies form the foundation of this Kentucky DOC/CDAR partnership. One strategy involves identifying common interests and shared goals that address substance use among offenders, with the overall aim of achieving recovery from substance abuse and reduce reoffending. In 2002, the Kentucky DOC and the University of Kentucky CDAR convened a reentry workgroup to focus on the shared goal of enhancing treatment opportunities for substance-using offenders during the transition from prison to the community. The second strategy involves the structuring of mutual cooperation and shared responsibility in addressing substance use among incarcerated individuals. A successful example of this strategy in Kentucky includes the implementation of the Criminal Justice Kentucky Treatment Outcome Study. This is a study that includes baseline assessment data collection by correctional treatment providers within 2 weeks of entry into substance abuse treatment. Data are electronically synchronized with CDAR's computer system, where they are stored and analyzed, along with data collected by university personnel in a followup of randomly selected volunteers released from prison 12 months later. A third strategy is to prioritize mutual benefits in the partnership, which includes improved treatment and intervention opportunities for substance-using offenders. One example of a project that is mutually beneficial to the DOC and CDAR is the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Study. Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Kentucky is 1 of 10 national centers funded to develop, implement, and test interventions for substance-using offenders in transition from prison to the community. 5 notes