FY 2009 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment in State Facilities.

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 New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) will sub-grant FY 2009 RSAT funding to the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS). Through this initiative, funds will be used to support the salaries of 17-alcohol and substance abuse treatment professionals at the following seven correctional facilities across the state: Auburn, Clinton Annex, Collins, Greene, Groveland, Marcy, and Mid-State. Each position will be responsible for oversight of the state's RSAT program in their assigned facility. The program, based on the therapeutic community model, focuses on the rehabilitation of the total individual by changing negative patterns of personal and social behavior in order to develop a life free of drug abuse and crime, through directed counseling, mentoring, and lesson delivery in a structured environment. Participants are housed in a dedicated unit within the facility, and will be subject to random drug testing. Ten-percent of the award will be directed to a local facility through a competitive process, or by the DCJS Commissioner's directive. To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act, DOCS has instituted an RSAT database and tracking system that captures information on all program participants. A two-year evaluation of the program was also recently completed. The study sampled more than one-thousand released inmates who successfully graduated from the program. The study found that successful participation and completion of RSAT was associated with decreased rates of return to custody.

NCA/NCF