Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners

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 South Carolina Department of Public Safety will utilize its FY 2009 RSAT funding for support of residential treatment facilities that target previously unserved or underserved populations, and provide treatment that lasts between 6 and 12 months. Aftercare services for program participants and sources of funding to specifically support graduates of the residential substance abuse treatment units will be identified. A preference for projects that incorporate aftercare services will be implemented by requiring each subrecipient to submit as part of their grant application a description of aftercare services that will be available to graduates of a residential substance abuse treatment unit. The Turbeville Correctional Institution and Leath Correctional Institution Addictions Treatments Units (ATUs) will continue to house a residential substance abuse treatment unit that is set apart from the general correctional population.
Additional facilities will be identified as part of the overall strategy in coordination with Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)and South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC.)

The RSAT treatment focus will be on the substance abuse problems of the offender, development of the offenders' cognitive, behavioral, social, vocational, and other skills to solve substance abuse and related problems. The goals of the program will be to: 1) Continue the identification, assessment, and referral of adult and juvenile alcohol and drug offenders needing addiction treatment services who are presently incarcerated or who are entering the correctional system; 2) Maintain the continuum of treatment services for SCDC incarcerated offenders and juveniles detained in DJJ facilities; 3) Maintain the continuum of care for juvenile and adult inmates completing addictions treatment programs, within the correctional system, and returning to the community through an appropriate range of aftercare services, improved coordination among agencies responsible for treatment, and increased information sharing; and, 4) Promote awareness by the general public and stakeholders for the need to provide intervention and treatment for the substance abusing juvenile and adult offender.

NCA/NCF