NCJ Number
193314
Journal
Topics in Community Corrections Dated: 2001 Pages: 46-49
Date Published
2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the establishment of the Radford Program (Henrico County, VA.), a collaboration with the goal of reducing barriers that impede treatment for substance-abusing offenders, along with treatment approaches and coordination, the use of technology, program resources, and program successes.
Abstract
The establishment of the Radford program was occasioned by the complaints by many persons mandated to receive substance abuse treatment that the location of the Mental Health Center, which is miles from both the State probation and parole office and the community corrections office, and its inaccessibility by public transportation kept them from keeping appointments for treatment. The Radford Program is an extension of existing services offered by the Henrico Area Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services. It was established to reduce barriers in accessing treatment for criminal justice referrals. The program is located in the same building as the local district probation and parole office on Radford Avenue. This location is near a bus line. As one aspect of its closer working relationship with the Henrico County Community Corrections Program (HCCP), the Mental Health Center provides two offices at the Radford location, which operates as full-time office space for county probation officers. Key stakeholders, including HCCP and the State probation and parole office, provided input into the development of the Radford Program. Program goals are to make treatment more accessible for offenders, close the communication gap, reduce the length of time an offender must wait for an appointment, and become more familiar with the work of all the agencies involved. The program uses an abstinence-based approach. The courts reinforce abstinence with orders for offenders to remain drug free and to be monitored through urine testing. This article describes the phases of the treatment program. The program's work has been facilitated by a networked system of computers in the offices. The program uses existing staff relocated from the county's main mental health center. Referrals have continued to increase, and the overall show rate for the first appointment is currently 75 percent, compared with the previous rate of 48 percent. In addition, there has been a faster turn-around time in getting offenders in for their initial appointments. The program has found significant results from its use of auricular detoxification acupuncture, implemented as a core component of the treatment process.