Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners.

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration-Intergovernmental Services will continue to utilize the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) grant to support state and county treatment programs for incarcerated individuals who are sentenced to a short period of time. Arkansas’ overall goal for the project is to break the cycle of drug addiction and violence by reducing the demand for, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. Arkansas continues to pursue this goal by providing evidence-based treatment and services for community reintegration.

The RSAT funds support Arkansas Department of Correction/Division of Community Correction. ACC (prison-based RSAT programming) which has 6 community-based correctional facilities throughout the State, Sevier County Detention Center (jail-based RSAT programming), and Hempstead County Detention Center (jail-based RSAT programming). Funded programs coordinate treatment services, aftercare, and community reintegration activities. These programs are geared to reduce Arkansas' recidivism rate as well address the treatment for substance abuse. Arkansas plans to continue the existing programs and implement additional programs as funding becomes available.

Prison-based residential programs are based on the Modified Therapeutic Community (TC) approach; motivational interviewing techniques, and Matrix Model as well as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) strategies to address and reduce opioid addictions among offenders. The prison-based programs operate in the range of 3 to 12 months, as applicable to RSAT policy, on a highly structured, rigorous schedule.

All residents fully participate in the TC programs daily. The Special Needs population has its own housing area separated from the general population. The program focuses on residents with issues such as co-occurring disorders, substance abuse, mental health and/or medical issues. Treatment Staff that work in this area are certified, trained and continue to stay updated as it relates to training while working with this population. This program operates within the long-term treatment modified therapeutic communities. The jail-based program has various partnerships in their catchment area that assist with providing aftercare treatment services and array of reentry services and activities.

Program anticipated results include the facilitation of lifestyle changes as evidenced by reduced recidivism rates. Another outcome is continued prescribed treatment (MAT) and support services in coordination with parole services system and/or program staff to the participant when released from the residential program into community. In addition, having a structured process for providing various after-care services, activities, and support to the participant for coping with the community integration and recovery.