Iowa 2023 RSAT Program

The Polk County Jail is crowded with offenders whose release is often delayed pending the availability of adequate supervision, placement, and/or substance abuse treatment services.  The grant funded RSAT program provides these services in a unique setting - within an otherwise vacant wing of the jail.  Though clients are housed in the facility and receive a variety of treatment and other services onsite, they are not considered to be incarcerated and are allowed to leave the facility to support their families, work, and participate in any number of community based habilitation services.  

The jail identifies inmates who may qualify for participation in the RSAT program and the contracted treatment provider, Bridges of Iowa, conducts a substance abuse needs assessment.  Inmates who qualify for the program are referred to the County Attorney who with input from jail and treatment staff petition the court for conditioned release to the RSAT program.  

The RSAT program is designed to transition offenders with significant substance abuse issues to the community.  The program provides clinically managed medium intensity residential substance abuse treatment as a component of an overall treatment protocol to address a broad range of deficiencies commonly faced by criminal justice clients.  Axillary programming includes medical services through the county hospital, healthy relationships, cognitive based counseling, financial literacy, education, employment, mental health services, and other services as determined by the individualized treatment plan.  Substance abuse treatment and several of the life skills programs are provided onsite by Bridges staff, while others are provided in the community through existing community resources.  Transportation assistance is provided for clients who need it to obtain community based service and attend work /school.  

Bridges staff develop a master treatment plan which identifies client strengths and weaknesses, areas of concern, treatment activities, and short- and long-term goals.  The program is designed to facilitate active participation in the recovery process. The treatment plan is updated on a regular basis as directed by state licensure requirement.  Bridges works with the Fifth Judicial Department of Correction Services (probation/parole) to provide case management and refer clients to services and hold them accountable for progress on their treatment plan.  

Goal
To establish an intensive Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program that is aimed at breaking the cycle of addiction and incarceration.  

Objectives/Expected Outcomes
1. The RSAT program will divert 100 non-violent offenders from the Polk County Jail to the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program on an annual basis.    
2. 80% of those clients who participate in the RSAT program at the Polk County Jail will complete successfully.
3. 100% of the clients admitted to the RSAT program will receive treatment that follows the federal guidelines of the RSAT program.
4. The RSAT program at the Polk County Jail will conduct and track the results of pre and post testing to assess client understanding of the treatment information.
5. 90% of the clients who are discharged from the RSAT program will receive a referral to a community-based recovery program.
6. 90% of RSAT graduates will not return to jail (two years post-graduation).
7. 95% of RSAT clients will be employed/enrolled in school at the time of graduation.
8. 75% of RSAT graduates will remain sober – 5 years post-graduation.  

This is a continuation project which is currently fully operational.  We anticipate 100 clients being diverted to treatment during the project performance period.