Substance Abuse Treatment for Incarcerated Offenders

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Formula Grant Program (RSAT) assists states and local governments in developing and implementing substance abuse treatment programs in state and local correctional and detention facilities. The RSAT Program also assists states and local governments in creating and maintaining community-based aftercare services for offenders who are released from institutionally based substance abuse programs. RSAT Formula Grant funds may be used to implement three types of programs. At least 10 percent of the total state allocation for FY 2007 shall be made available to local correctional and detention facilities (provided such facilities exist) for either residential substance abuse treatment programs or jail-based substance abuse treatment programs as defined below.

The New Hampshire Department of Justice intends to continue to make available at least ten percent of the State's FY 2007 RSAT funds to support local correctional facilities to provide substance abuse treatment services at the local level. The remainder of the State's 2007 RSAT allocation will be subgranted to continue existing substance abuse programming at the New Hampshire Division for Juvenile Justice Services, Youth Services Center. The Youth Services Center is the state agency responsible for maintaining the custody of all committed and detained juvenile offenders. The New Hampshire Department of Justice has subgranted RSAT funds to the boy's substance abuse treatment program at the Youth Services Center for a number of years. The Adolescence Drug and Alcohol Program is a residentially segregated, six to twelve month treatment-focused program. The program includes: psycho-educational groups; life skills groups; weekly individual counseling provided by both the resident's primary counselor and the Treatment Coordinator; physical training/recreational programs; and an experiential component (i.e., ropes courses, rock climbing, and skiing). Once the juvenile has successfully demonstrated responsible behavior and attitude within the institutional environment, they are allowed to participate in community service projects, community-based recreation, and family furloughs. During the final two weeks of the program, the resident may attend a community-based school and/or obtain employment. The juvenile also meets with their counselor to develop a comprehensive aftercare and relapse prevention plan. When the juvenile is released to the community, they are required, as a condition of parole, to attend local self-help programs and to submit to random urinalysis screens.

NCA/NCF