FY 2007 RSAT

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. Residential Substance Abuse Treatment 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 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will use their FY 2007 RSAT funds to fund 3 additional positions for the Therapeutic Community at SCI Cambridge Springs. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PDOC) is committed to making Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) treatment available to any inmate within their custody deemed in need of these services. All inmates committed to the PDOC undergo a set of assessments including AOD screening using the Texas Christian University (TCU) Drug Screen and Assessment Instrument and the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R). The TCU Drug Screen and LSI-R scores guide the Department's Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialists in properly placing inmates into AOD treatment. Based on screenings and assessment results, inmates are recommended to participate in either AOD Outpatient treatment or inpatient therapeutic community (TC) treatment. Therapeutic Communities (TC's) are the most intensive type of drug and alcohol treatment available to inmates. Treatment within a TC typically lasts six to twelve months, and entails a 'total immersion' approach to rehabilitation. Inmates within the TC's are largely separated from the general inmate population. They undergo full-time therapy designed not only to divert them from further drug use, but also to teach them to think and solve problems in a more constructive and non-criminal manner. Cambridge Springs (CBS) State Correctional Institution (SCI) a women's facility located in Crawford County Pennsylvania has a waiting list of approximately 213 inmates for TC treatment, 69 of which are within 12 months of their minimum. Currently, the TC located at CBS SCI gives priority to the needs of inmates participating in the State Intermediate Punishment Program (SIP), a specialized program designed for offenders convicted of drug-related offenses in which a prosecutor and sentencing judge recommends an individual for the program. Because of the limited time frame of the sentence structure of a SIP sentenced inmate, this population is given priority for entry. As a result, the typical non-SIP inmate who is assessed and deemed appropriate for TC treatment is required to remain incarcerated 4 ' 6 weeks beyond her minimum release date in order to complete the TC program. Therefore, the Department would like to open a new 40 bed TC at SCI Cambridge Springs further enhancing their capability to provide substance abuse treatment to female inmates.

NCA/NCF