Louisiana Residential Substance Abuse Treatment

The goal of the Louisiana’s RSAT Program is to disrupt the self-perpetuating process of drug addiction, violence and societal decay by reducing the demand for drugs that, in part, sustains the violence seen in communities. The specific objective is to continue to operate the RSAT Program for adult offenders and eventually juvenile offenders using the best available practices and techniques.  Briefly, this encompasses a treatment program for those incarcerated and enrolled in the RSAT program by providing drug treatment, moral reconation therapy, life and job skills, anger management, parenting skills, vocational training, reentry, and reintegration into society assistance.  The 2022 grant will be used to fund three adult RSAT programs. 

The RSAT Program in Louisiana has specific objectives:

Ensure that successful program participants are suited for reintegration back into the community by providing necessary attitude and behavior modifications;

Maintain and, if possible, increase the capacity of the state run RSAT Programs;

Maintain an aftercare program to help ensure the successful transition of RSAT participants into society, and minimize the potential negative impact to the community;

Reduce the recidivism rate of those participants returned to their communities.

Louisiana operates a residential RSAT Program currently for adults only. There are three (3) adult programs: Steve Hoyle Intensive Substance Abuse Program (SHISAP) based at the Bossier Parish Correctional Facility in Plain Dealing, which is under the auspices of the Department of Corrections (DOC); Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office in Vidalia, LA; and Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office in Thibodaux, LA. The Concordia Parish and Lafourche facilities are the local correctional facilities required by this solicitation. Admission to the program is determined by court order, referral by the courts or District Attorney, or placement by DOC. Generally, those convicted of a drug offense or those who self-identify as a substance abuser are admitted.  The Bossier program has a capacity of about 600 inmates wherein the entire facility is devoted to RSAT, Concordia has a capacity for 250 inmates, and the Lafourche program has the capacity of 100 inmates.