FFY 2009 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners 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 Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) plans to use FY 2009 RSAT funds to support residential substance abuse treatment administered to state prisoners in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ), as well as for local programs. Illinois currently supports: 80 beds for adult males at Graham Correctional Center; 26 beds for dually diagnosed adult females at Dwight Correctional Center; 108 beds for juvenile males at Illinois Youth Center (IYC)-St. Charles, IYC-Joliet, and IYC-Harrisburg; and, 30 beds for juvenile females at IYC-Warrenville. Additionally, RSAT funds support the screening and clinical assessment for juvenile males at the IYC-St. Charles Reception and Classification Unit.

The Illinois RSAT treatment program includes three-phase treatment which lasts between 6 and 12 months and focuses on the thinking and choice patterns that lead to drug use, drug sales, and related criminal activity. The orientation phase lasts from one to four weeks, varying according to the individual participant's progress. During the orientation phase staff administers drug screening and assessment tests, if not administered at intake. Participants are introduced to the program and the regimented classes and activities of the unit, and participants and staff determine specific treatment goals. The intensive phase lasts from three to nine months. Activities include social and life skill building, physical development and recreation, and counseling and personal development. The purpose is to assist offenders in understanding their addiction and criminal behavior. The pre-release phase lasts from one to three months. This phase prepares the offender for reintegration into the community. Activities during this phase include pre-release case planning, reinforcement of skills and information introduced during the intensive phase, and relapse prevention planning.

In summary, the grant funds will be used to support the existing goals of the Illinois RSAT Program to: 1) establish, expand, and maintain residential substance abuse treatment beds for adult and juvenile offenders; 2) provide ongoing training and educational opportunities for staff in RSAT programs; 3) expand pre-treatment orientation services; and 4) expand screening and assessment services for adult and juvenile offenders targeted for RSAT-funded programs. ICJIA will use 4.1 percent of the grant funds for administration, with 85.9 percent to IDOC and IDJJ, and up to 10 percent to continue funding Franklin County, a local subgrantee, for its juvenile methamphetamine aftercare program.

NCA/NCF