NCJ Number
177117
Date Published
1998
Length
11 pages
Annotation
An analysis of the feasibility of providing inmate drug treatment to all civil addicts and felons in the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) focused on the civil addict program, the CRC population, basic and specialized drug treatment at CRC, treatment program space, and costs of both basic and specialized treatment.
Abstract
CRC houses 2,809 felons and 2,198 civil addicts. CRC has several programs for felon and civil addict commitments. The basic civil addict treatment program consists of an educational curriculum, weekly drug abuse counseling groups, mandatory participation in self-help groups, and urinalysis. Psychiatric social workers assist in assessment and treatment. The specialized drug treatment programs consist of an 80-bed therapeutic community program for civil addicts and an 88-bed education-based treatment unit for civil male addicts. Specialized therapeutic community services will be provided to 200 male civil addicts beginning around April 1, 1998. Basic treatment programs serve 2,117 civil addicts at an annual cost of $2.3 million. The 2 current specialized programs can serve 168 inmates at an annual cost of approximately $1.7 million. Recent research has revealed that specialized drug treatment such as therapeutic communities have a much better impact on drug addiction and recidivism than do basic programs. However, not all the felons at the felons at CRC are appropriate candidates for drug treatment. Expanding specialized treatment for an additional 4,640 felons and civil addicts would involve capital costs of $21.8 million and annual treatment costs of $50.1 million, This option is possible, but its cost, construction delay, and future data on effectiveness will determine whether it is feasible. Tables and 2 references