Project Bridge Substance Abuse Transition Program

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program assists states and local governments to develop and implement substance abuse treatment programs in state and local correctional and detention facilities and to create and maintain community-based aftercare services for offenders. The goal of the RSAT Program is to break the cycle of drugs and violence by reducing the demand for, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. RSAT enhances the capability of states and units of local government to provide residential substance abuse treatment for incarcerated inmates; prepares offenders for their reintegration into the communities from which they came by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs; and assists offenders and their communities through the reentry process through the delivery of community-based treatment and other broad-based aftercare services. RSAT funds may be used to implement three types of programs: residential, jail-based, and aftercare. At least 10 percent of the total state allocation for FY 2010 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.

The State of Hawaii, Department of the Attorney General, will use the FY 2010 RSAT funds to support a substance abuse treatment program for male offenders who are eligible for parole in 6 to 12 months. The project will provide felons who have a history of drug or alcohol abuse with the opportunity to continue their recovery in a structured substance abuse treatment and work release program. The project will expand a 32-bed transitional program for participants who graduate from the therapeutic community program located at Waiawa Correctional Facility, or participants who completed outpatient substance abuse treatment program while incarcerated. The goals of the Hawaii RSAT Program are to reduce the rates of recidivism and relapse. Specific objectives of the program include the following: (1) 90 percent of the participants will have negative urinalysis test results while in the program; (2) 95 percent of participants will successfully complete the program within one year of placement; (3) 70 percent of graduates will have negative urinalysis test results during their first year on parole; and (4) 70% of graduates will not be convicted of a new crime during their first year on parole.

Training and program development of The Department of Public Safety's substance abuse treatment services follow a statewide strategic plan to implement a system-wide, standardized assessment protocol to match offender to level of supervision and services by identifying LSI-R risk factor severity to a 'what works' approach in services. The new program will double the capacity of a 32-bed Project Bridge program for male offenders. The housing capacity will increase to 64 beds with the potential of serving 128 male offenders (two 6-month classes per year). Project Bridge is operating at the Laumaka Work Furlough Facility at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. The program provides dedicated housing for participants separated from the general population. The participants will receive wrap around services to support an alcohol and drug-free lifestyle which includes job development and placement services, cognitive behavior therapy, financial management, and family counseling.

NCA/NCF