Report on Implementation of Vendored Residential Drug Treatment Programs in Department of Correction Facilities

• NCJ Number: 141125
• Author(s): J W Knight
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 36 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This implementation evaluation describes the initial organization, treatment as designed, and characteristics of the participants through the first 6 months of the Massachusetts Drug Control and System Improvement Formula Grant Program, which intends to implement substance abuse treatment units for incarcerated persons with drug or alcohol problems.

Abstract

The goal of the program is to establish three residential intensive substance abuse program units at a medium, minimum, and the female facility. The treatment components of these programs are to be delivered by a private vendor with the ability to provide Spanish-language groups. The medium-security unit also has the Positive Addictions program, a relapse prevention program for inmates with substance abuse problems. This evaluation study does not survey inmates' perceptions of the programs nor does it monitor the delivery of the treatment components. The data sources for the evaluation included documents and program descriptions provided by the treatment coordinators, interviews with both vendor and Department of Corrections staff, and an automated data base that provided limited client information on patterns of drug use. As intended, all three drug treatment programs have been implemented. The physical spaces have been modified to accommodate the programs, and they have been at or near capacity from the beginning admission date. The strength of all the programs has been their ability to recruit participants. Retention of participants is evidenced in 72 percent remaining in the program at the end of 5 months. The major implementation problem was the recruitment and retention of counseling staff, particularly the Spanish-speaking counselors. The unit management team concept was not fully implemented at the men's unit due to understaffing, goal confusion, and misunderstanding of the appropriate roles for treatment and security personnel. All program units experienced shortages of education materials and other supplies. There is a need for substance abuse counselors who are cross-trained in issues of corrections and inmate clients. Additional evaluation should be done to monitor the programs and their clients and eventually to compare recidivism rates and community adjustment to a control group of inmates. Appended supplementary information, 7 tables, and a 28-item bibliography