Typically, the public health drug treatment and criminal justice systems have different goals, none of which are directly focused on reducing recidivism. Having stated goals of reducing recidivism and controlling crime positions the interventions to focus on outcomes.

Interventions, both clinical and supervisory, must be designed to support these goals. The emphasis on recidivism reduction brings the systems into alignment, requires each to rethink operations and priorities for the agencies individually and jointly, and reallocates resources accordingly.