NCJ Number
58018
Date Published
1976
Length
33 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF A COMPULSORY DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR OFFENDERS IN HONG KONG ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE 1969 DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM ADDICTION TO A DANGEROUS DRUG. PRIOR TO THE SIGNING OF AN ORDER FOR DETENTION FOR TREATMENT, THE COURT CONSIDERS A REPORT BY THE PRISON AUTHORITIES REGARDING THE SUITABILITY OF EACH PERSON FOR TREATMENT. THE ORDINANCE STIPULATES THAT AN OFFENDER FOR WHOM A DETENTION ORDER IS MADE SHALL BE DETAINED IN AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER FOR NOT LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND NOT MORE THAN 18 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE ORDER, DEPENDING ON THE PROGRESS OF THE OFFENDER IN TREATMENT. EFFORT IS MADE TO HAVE THE INSTITUTIONAL SETTING OF THE TREATMENT CENTERS AS OPEN AS POSSIBLE. IT IS MADE CLEAR TO THE CLIENTS THAT THE PROGRESS WHICH IS MADE IN THE PROGRAM WILL DEPEND PRIMARILY UPON THE CLIENT HIMSELF, WITH THE STAFF AND FACILITIES SERVING AS FACILITATORS FOR HIS OWN EFFORTS. A REGULAR DAILY ROUTINE, COUPLED WITH PHYSICAL LABOR, IS CONDUCTED, MAINLY TO CULTIVATE GOOD WORK HABITS. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING IS ALSO PROVIDED TO HELP BREAK PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE ON DRUGS. PROGRESS OF EACH CLIENT IS REGULARLY REVIEWED. AGE GROUPINGS AND PREVIOUS CRIMINAL HISTORY ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN SEGREGATING CLIENTS FOR TREATMENT. AFTERCARE IS REQUIRED FOR A 1-YEAR PERIOD. HALFWAY HOUSES AND SOCIAL CLUBS FOR FORMER ADDICTS ARE TWO OF THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR DISCHARGED CLIENTS. SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PROGRAM IN 1969, SOME 8,296 MEN AND 342 WOMEN HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED FROM THE TREATMENT CENTERS. AT THE END OF THE 1-7 YEAR FOLLOWUP AFTER RELEASE, THE DRUG-FREE RATE STANDS AT 59.92 PERCENT FOR MEN AND 69.69 PERCENT FOR WOMEN. ON THE BASIS OF A 10 PERCENT SAMPLE FOLLOWED UP FOR 3 YEARS, THE FIGURE STANDS AT 40.13 PERCENT FOR MEN, WHILE THE RATE FOR WOMEN CANNOT BE MEASURED DUE TO THE SMALL NUMBER WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE 3-YEAR POSTDISCHARGE PERIOD. IN THE 1950'S AND 1960'S, THE PRESENCE OF DRUG ADDICTION AMONG ADMISSIONS TO PRISONS WAS A CONSTANT 90 PERCENT. TODAY THE FIGURE HAS DROPPED TO 63 PERCENT. STATISTICS ARE PROVIDED FOR A SAMPLE OF MALE AND FEMALE CLIENTS WHO COMPLETED THE TREATMENT PROGRAM BETWEEN 1972 AND 1974 . (RCB)