I. Substance Abusing Offenders

Service Tools Continued:

Offenders generally are assigned to specific services based on the intensity of treatment they need. Education provides short classes on drugs, alcohol and addiction for offenders with the lowest-severity problems and to offenders who need to begin to prepare to enter treatment. Outpatient treatment provides less than 9 hours of counseling per week, while intensive outpatient refers to 9 or more hours of counseling per week. Short-term residential treatment means 28 days or less in a treatment facility while long-term residential treatment is longer. Substance abusing offenders also frequently require mental health treatment and services for education, employment, and housing.

Since treatment services typically are provided through the public health system, it is critical for staff to develop working relationships and information sharing protocols with treatment providers. Respecting confidentiality issues, information about offender attendance at treatment sessions and any drug test results should be shared immediately, preferably through automated or web-based applications. This both holds offenders accountable and allows staff to adjust their treatment plans as necessary. Treatment and criminal justice personnel must function as a team in managing the behavior of individual offenders as well as on matters of overall policy.