RSAT Residential 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 Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission (VILEPC) will use the FY 2009 RSAT funds to support the Bureau of Corrections' Virgin Islands Residential Substance Abuse (VIRSAT) program at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility. The program will continue to provide drug rehabilitation services in a set-aside residential treatment facility. The focus of the VIRSAT program will include: (a)random urinalysis; (b) individual and group counseling; (c) general education; (d) self-esteem development; (e) cognitive, behavioral and social skills development; (f) career and technical education; (g) and aftercare.

The residential phase of the program is designed to last for a minimum of twenty-four weeks and a maximum of fifty-two weeks. Inmates may volunteer for participation, be recommended by the institution medical/psychological staff or be ordered by the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. The goal of the VIRSAT program is to break the cycle of drugs and violence by intervention in the dysfunctional and addictive behavior of the inmates in the Virgin Islands prison system by reducing the demand for, use and trafficking of illegal drugs resulting in a reduction in the rate of recidivism. The program is expected to: (1) reduce the recidivism rate of participants who complete treatment; (2) reduce post-release substance abuse among inmates completing treatment; (3) enhance the education, life, management, vocational, and parenting skill of participants to improve their ability to reintegrate into the community from which the came; (4) begin the incorporation of the reentry planning process into treatment; and (5) deliver community based treatment and aftercare services.

NCA/NCF