Prison Life - Substance Abuse Treatment

prison life

The Department of Corrections, under the Health Services Division, provides Chemical Dependency (CD) treatment within available resources to those offenders who are diagnosed as chemically dependent and meet admission criteria. At select sites, specialized, integrated treatment is also available for offenders who are addicted and have been diagnosed as seriously mentally ill (co-occurring disorder or COD).

The Department’s Chemical Dependency Treatment Continuum of Care includes:

  • Screening and Diagnostic Assessment
  • Residential and Intensive Outpatient Treatment
  • Outpatient Aftercare Treatment
  • Community-based Referral Services

How do you determine that an offender is chemically dependent?

Each offender entering the Department is given a CD screening consisting of a validated self-report questionnaire. Offenders screened as having a probability of an addiction and who are within two years of release from total confinement or under community supervision may be referred for an assessment.

Assessment includes a structured interview, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Admission includes drug testing and the development of an initial individualized treatment plan.

What kind of help is provided?

Chemical Dependency Treatment consists of various levels differing in duration of stay and level of intensity. Treatment is available at various locations based on staffing and funding.

Offenders accepted into treatment are placed in one or more of the following treatment levels or supplemental programs:

  • Long-term treatment also known as Therapeutic Community - The highest level of treatment that lasts from 6-12 months in a structured, residential setting
  • Intensive Outpatient Program - Provides 6-12 weeks of intensive treatment; available in total confinement as well as in the community and work release settings
  • Outpatient - Provides a minimum of 3 months of transitional care at designated community-based sites
  • Recovery House - Provides structured aftercare services in designated work release sites for those who have completed long-term treatment in total confinement

If the Offender is in Total Confinement

The CD professional (i.e., contract staff assigned as CD Counselor/Case Manager) will accept referrals in the following order:

  1. Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA) offenders
  2. Non-DOSA offenders participating in hepatitis C treatment or Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board (ISRB) requirement for treatment
  3. HV or HNV within 12 months of their Earned Release Date (ERD) and have community supervision requirements
  4. Other chemically dependent offenders within 12 months of ERD and have community supervision requirements

If they are in Work Release or the Community

The CD professional will make referrals in the following order:

  1. DOSA offenders or other sentencing alternatives
  2. Offenders releasing from a confinement-based therapeutic community. These offenders will be assigned to a Work Release offering therapeutic community if otherwise eligible.
  3. Offenders released from total confinement who have completed treatment
  4. Violators who have completed intensive inpatient treatment in the community
  5. Other eligible chemically dependent, supervised offenders, as resources allow

All treatment provided by the Department is certified by the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery and includes cognitive and behavioral restructuring, alcohol and drug education, individual and group counseling, relapse prevention, self-help support skills, and skill building.

You may need to provide a Release of Information for Chemical Dependency Treatment. Please fill out the Release of Confidential Information form 14.303.