DOJ Awards $32.6 Million for Prisoner Drug Treatment
4/29/2005

The Department of Justice (http://www.usdoj.gov/)'s Office of Justice Programs has awarded $32.6 million nationwide for alcohol and other drug abuse treatment services for inmates through its Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program (RSAT).

State and local correctional facilities will receive funding from RSAT, which is designed to "focus on the substance abuse problems of the inmate and develop [his or her] cognitive, behavioral, social, vocational, and other life skills to solve substance-abuse and related problems ... [both] within the institution and in the community after a prisoner is released," according to a press release (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/pressreleases/BJA05015.htm).

Larger states such as California will receive a proportional bulk of the funding - as much as $3.3 million - while smaller states as Vermont will receive as little as $150,000. Funding is allocated based on the ratio of state prison population to the overall prison population nationwide.

More than 70 percent of local prison inmates have been incarcerated because of drugs or drug-related offenses, or report using drugs. Of the 600,000 men and women released each year, there is 67-percent recidivism within three years.

I think this is just wonderful. It certainly is a good start. So many are in prison because of drug problems or drug related crimes. They never will get rid of the addiction in prison unless they get some concrete help. This will help many and I wish everyone the best.

Thanks for sharing the article with us. It indeed will bring hope to many and who knows perhaps will clean out some of the prisons and other penal facilities.

This is wonderful but there is one thing that does concern me. Where exactly does this money go? The reason I want to know? I have a friend in a supermax prison who could have used this program years agot to stay out of isolation. Anyway, they pee test these prisoners who are in isolation 22-22 and 1/2 hours a day and who have NO Contact with the outside world for he is in a no contact prison ok. He has been there 7 years, and they still test him. The state gets all this money for saying oh look how well we are doing keeping drugs out of this prison! Of course, none can get in there unless gaurds take them in. So they are spending around $60.00 a person to take a test to say we are keeping drugs out of a no contact prison. DUH??? So the money they receive? Where does it go? When someone visits him, there is 6 inch glass pane between them and him and a speaker. You coud pass nothing if your life bet on it.

I have a friend in one of those "programs". They are violating his rights. He IS NOT a drug user, however they are MAKING him participate. By "participate" I mean for instance, you must tell everything personal about yourself in front of everyone. Now, I dont know about you, but I would rather NOT air my laundry in a room full of people i didnt know..to do what they wish with that info inside prison to you..or outside prison to your family. He has been harassed, beaten, doesnt get his mail, to name a few. He jusst wants to do his time and go home, and all they care about is the money. The program is run by a large company called Center Point Inc. They are becoming very popular, now I see why. Thats a lot of money. Bottom line...it's all about lining their pockets. They want bodies there, and don't care about the rehab...Sorry for long winded speech...He is in SO CA...same place the guard was killed. Guess they have to make it look good. I can't believe they are getting away with this. Isn't the prison being "monitered" ??Thanks for listening...God Bless