NCJ Number
48512
Date Published
1976
Length
87 pages
Annotation
A PROJECT DESIGNED TO DIVERT PUBLIC INEBRIATES FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING DETOXIFICATIN AND TREATMENT SERVICES IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
WYOMING'S PUBLIC INTOXICATION TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES (PITA) PROJECT INCLUDES TWO DEMONSTRATION SITES: AN URBAN DETOXIFICATION FACILITY, WHICH DRAWS UPON A WIDE RANGE OF LOCAL TREATMENT RESOURCES; AND A RURAL FACILITY, WHICH COMBINES DETOXIFICATION AND TREATMENT. BOTH SITES WERE FOUND TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE, WELLOPERATED FACILITIES FOR DIVERTING PUBLIC INEBRIATES INTO DETOXIFICATION AND TREATMENT. DIVERSION HAS RESULTED IN THE REDUCTION OF ALCOHOL ABUSE-RELATED WORKLOADS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COSTS. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE URBAN PITA SITE SUGGEST THAT LONG-TERM REDUCTIONS IN ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSES REQUIRE STRENGTHENED LINKS BETWEEN DIVERSION AND DETOXIFICATION AND BETWEEN DETOXIFICATION AND TREATMENT. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE RURAL SITE HIGHLIGHTS THE DIFFICULTY OF DIVERTING PUBLIC INEBRIATES IN SPARSELY POPULATED AREAS. THE PROJECT'S PROGRESS IN BUILDING SUPPORT FOR DIVERSION AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND WITHIN WYOMING COMMUNITIES WAS FOUND TO BE INSUFFICIENT. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE PITA PROJECT CONCEPT WILL REQUIRE CLARIFICATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT LIABILITY FOR, AND TREATMENT CENTER AUTHORITY OVER, PERSONS WHO ARE DIVERTED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WYOMING ESTABLISH A STATE-LOCAL MATCHING PROGRAM TO FUND A TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC INEBRIATES, BUT POSTPONE ACTION ON DESCRIMINALIZING PUBLIC INTOXICATION. DETAILS OF THE PROJECT AND THE EVALUATION, TOGETHER WITH SUPPORTING DATA, ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)