NCJ Number
140961
Journal
Innovation Exchange Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1992) Pages: 21-22
Date Published
1992
Length
2 pages
Annotation
The LEV project was instituted in Nitzan detention center, operated by the Israel Prison Service, as it became clear that drug abuse was a serious problem among inmates. Statistics indicate that the number of drug users in Israel is increasing by 25 percent annually, and existing treatment programs are unable to keep up with the demand for services.
Abstract
The LEV project is based on creating drug-free prison wings in each facility. The wing can house six to eight inmates and is situated near the detention center's public areas to ensure that participating prisoners have easy access to sports, employment, and educational facilities. A drug treatment team, consisting of four to five inmates, chooses the detainees who can participate in the treatment program. Criteria for inclusion are a clean bill of health, readiness to help others in their attempts at drug rehabilitation, willingness to participate in treatment groups, agreement to coordinate activities with family members, and agreement to cooperate with community agencies. Continual urinalysis is used to determine that the participant is remaining drug-free.