NCJ Number
155529
Date Published
Unknown
Length
18 pages
Annotation
The Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council (CJPC) evaluated the Substance Abuse Felony Punishment (SAFP) initiative in terms of offender recidivism.
Abstract
In 1994, the Texas Governor's Office requested that the CJPC project the potential demand for SAFP treatment beds. The CJPC report projected a maximum need of 7,200 beds by the year 2000 to serve about 10,000 offenders. With the expansion of SAFP beds from 3,205 to 5,200 in fiscal year 1995 and the expansion to 7,200 beds by fiscal year 1996, the SAFP program will have a treatment capacity of approximately 10,000 offenders per year. In fiscal year 1994, 2,971 offenders were admitted to SAFP treatment, while 895 offenders remained on an SAFP waiting list. Evaluation of the SAFP initiative indicated that offenders completing treatment had reduced recidivism rates. However, offenders who entered treatment but dropped out had recidivism rates at or higher than comparison inmates. A significant number of offenders dropped out of treatment, thus negatively impacting the SAFP program's success. Issues associated with SAFP program implementation and operation are detailed that focus on the availability of trained counseling staff; the need for a standardized screening, assessment, and selection process for placing offenders in the SAFP program; the development of a postrelease treatment program consistent with the quality and effort of prison treatment; and the importance of program cohesion and adequate information. 1 table and 2 figures