State of Hawaii - FY 2023 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program - Formula Grant

The Department of the Attorney General will subcontract with the Department of Public Safety (PSD) to provide substance abuse (SA) specific reentry services for male and female offenders who are eligible for release within 6 to 12 months. 

Grant funds will supplement operational costs for PSD’s Bridge Program; a SA, work-release and reentry program for males at Laumaka Work Furlough Center (LWFC), and for women at the Women’s Community Correction Center (WCCC).  Bridge provides inmates who have a history of drug and alcohol abuse the opportunity to continue their recovery in a structured SA treatment and work-release program.  The project will serve as a transitional program for male and female offenders who have 1) graduated from one of the Department’s therapeutic program; 2) completed an intensive outpatient SA treatment program; or 3) completed an outpatient SA treatment program while incarcerated. 

Training and development of PSD’s SA treatment services follow a statewide strategic plan.  The plan aims to implement a system-wide, standardized assessment protocol to match offenders to appropriate levels of supervision and services by identifying Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) risk factor severity to evidence-based practices in services.  Programming will include individual and group counseling, relapse prevention, job development, life skills, family counseling and reunification, etc.  The program also works with participants to address their criminogenic needs. 

The project goals are to decrease the rate of recidivism and to reduce the rate of relapse into drug or alcohol use.  The projects objectives are as follows: 90% of the participants will have negative urinalysis test results while in the program; 85% of the participants will successfully complete the program within one year of placement; 75% of participants will experience an increase in their overall post-test scores (from their pre-test score); 75% of graduates will develop an aftercare or transition plan; 75% of graduates will have a negative urinalysis test result during their first year on parole; and 75% of the program graduates will not be convicted of a new crime during the first year on parole.

Funds will be used to sustain a 1.0 FTE SA Counselor Position for the men’s program.  If funding permits, funds will also help to sustain 2.0 FTE Office Services Assistants, one for each program site and will be used to support general operating cost including but not limited to miscellaneous equipment, supplies/inmate education materials, and staff training. Approximately 158 inmates are anticipated to benefit from the help of grant funds.