NCJ Number
123651
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services & Rehabilitation Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (1990) Pages: 111-130
Date Published
1990
Length
20 pages
Annotation
When convicted substance abusers have been sentenced for a criminal offense, they may not receive treatment for the substance abuse problem.
Abstract
Various drug treatment programs exist in correctional institutions, but the setting and atmosphere under which they are conducted may not be very treatment-oriented. Given concern about the inability of the criminal justice system to provide adequate treatment for substance abusers, such offenders have often been diverted from the system. Increasingly, treatment is being sought as part of criminal justice system processing. One program that attempts to achieve this is the Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) program, which identifies criminal offenders with drug problems and refers them for treatment while still retaining jurisdiction over them. With the move toward alternatives to incarceration, this has tended to mean providing these offenders with treatment in the community in an outpatient setting. Outpatient treatment programs range from methadone maintenance clinics to detoxification and drug-free outpatient units. Client retention in treatment is probably the greatest difficulty facing outpatient treatment programs. Overall, research indicates that the addition of criminal justice clients has not had a negative impact on outpatient drug treatment programs. A consideration, however, in admitting criminal clients to treatment programs concerns the punishment-treatment dichotomy. Criminal justice referrals, especially if they are accompanied by probation or parole supervision, carry at the very least an implication of punishment orientation. In addition, the conflict between criminal justice officials and treatment professionals over whether relapse constitutes failure needs to be addressed. 40 references.