State of Alabama's FY2009 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) Grant Program

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 2009 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 Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Division will sub-grant FY 2009 RSAT funds to its designated sub-grantee, the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) in an effort to reduce illicit drug use among the incarcerated as they transition back in to the community.

Primary goals of the ADOC's initiative are to: prepare offenders for reintegration by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programming; enhance the capability of the state and its units of local government in providing residential substance abuse treatment for the incarcerated; and assist offenders and their communities through the reentry process with delivery of both community based treatment and other broad based aftercare services.

The ADOC will continue to operate eight RSAT programs with a total of 1,246 beds currently operating at Bibb County Correctional Facility, Donaldson Correctional Facility, Draper Correctional Facility, Easterling Correctional Facility, Limestone Correctional Facility, Tutwiler Prison for Women, Ventress Correctional Facility, and Bullock Correctional Facility. The intensive six-month long program will include daily structured activities that will emphasize recovery through the development of positive cognitive, behavioral, and social skills. Regular drug testing will also occur through all phases of treatment. Following completion of the program, participants will be provided an opportunity to enroll in aftercare services.

NCA/NCF