FFY23 State of Maryland RSAT Initiatives

The Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (Office) as Maryland’s the State Administering Agency (SAA), will utilize BJA FY2023 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Formula Grant funds to increase the capacity of state prisons and local detention centers to provide comprehensive services to inmates with substance use disorder (SUD). Despite statewide efforts to address the growing number of drug- and alcohol-related intoxication deaths, Maryland continues to witness a steady increase in deaths as a result of ingestion or exposure to alcohol or other types of drugs. Since 2011, and with the exception of 2019 and 2022 which resulted in a slight decrease, the number of drug- and alcohol-related intoxication deaths increased by 285%, from 671 in 2011 to 2,581 in 2022.

Through this project, the Office will support goals including: 1) develop and implement evidence-based assessment and treatment programs for inmates diagnosed with co-occurring substance use disorder and behavioral health issues as indicated; 2) improve treatment outcomes among incarcerated individuals; and 3) reduce rates of recidivism among incarcerated individuals diagnosed with SUD. Anticipated outcomes include: an increased number of inmates screened for SUD and co-occurring mental health disorders; inmates diagnosed with SUD receiving access to evidence-based treatment; eligible inmates will receive access to MAT services; inmates will receive access to a comprehensive range of reentry/aftercare services to reduce barriers to successful reintegration; and recidivism rates will decrease among inmates treated for SUD. The Office will require subrecipients to complete the Performance Measurement Tool (PMT).

The Office will issue a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to solicit proposals from state and local correctional facilities to increase their capacity to diagnose and treat justice-involved individuals with SUD and increase access to aftercare services with the goal of reducing rates of recidivism among incarcerated individuals with a SUD diagnosis.