NCJ Number
18496
Date Published
1973
Length
30 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS PROJECT DESIGNED TO MOTIVATE AND IMPROVE THE LIFE STYLE OF THE CHRONIC ALCOHOLIC, AND TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM RATES, COURT APPEARANCES, AND DETENTION OF CHRONIC ALCOHOL OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE SUN STREET CENTER PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE SOCIAL MODEL OF TREATMENT. THIS APPROACH SEEKS TO CREATE A NEW ENVIRONMENT FOR ALCOHOLICS WHICH IS CONDUCIVE TO SOBRIETY, AND TO BRING ABOUT A CHANGE IN COMMUNITY ATTITUDES WHICH WILL AID MOTIVATION TO TREATMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC. THE SSC PROGRAM MAKES USE OF EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES OF EMPLOYMENT, REHABILITATION, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR VARIOUS NEEDS OF ALCOHOLICS RATHER THAN DUPLICATING THESE SERVICES WITHIN THE SSC PROGRAM. EVALUATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDED RESIDENT FOLLOW-UPS, A COMPARISON OF DRUNK ARREST RATES FOR 1968 AND 1973, AN ESTIMATE OF COSTS AND SAVINGS, AND A SURVEY OF PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS ARRESTS FROM 1968 TO 1972. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT HAVE BEEN MET. ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUAL IMPROVEMENT AND RECOVERY RATES WERE LOWER THAN EXPECTED. DRUNK ARRESTS WERE DOWN 61.6 PERCENT FROM 1968; COURT APPEARANCES DECREASED 84.2 PERCENT AND SENTENCED DETENTION DROPPED 70.1 PERCENT FOR THE SAME PERIOD. AN ESTIMATE OF THE SAVINGS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR 1972 IN PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES, WHICH HAD HERETOFORE BEEN APPLIED TO PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS, WAS $270,400. ADMISSIONS INCREASED BY 50 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS GRANT YEAR. REFERRALS FROM HEALTH AND WELFARE AGENCIES TO SSC WENT FROM 2.6 PERCENT IN 1968 TO 40.2 PERCENT IN 1972, WHILE REFERRALS FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES FELL FROM 50 PERCENT TO 11 PERCENT FOR THE SAME PERIOD. THIS WAS SEEN AS A STRONG INDICATION OF THE SHIFT OF THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THE HEALTH SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) SALINAS