Organizational characteristics of drug abuse treatment programs for offenders

Abstract

This article examines the association between the organizational characteristics of drug abuse treatment programs for offenders and the provision of wraparound services and three types of treatment orientations. Data are from the National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices Survey, which was conducted with program directors ( N = 217). A greater number of wraparound services provided were associated with inpatient treatment, specialized treatment facilities, community setting (vs. correctional), services provided for more types of client populations, college-educated staff, and planned treatment for > 180 days. Therapeutic community orientation was associated with prison-based treatment and specialized treatment facilities. Cognitive–behavioral therapy orientation was associated with higher perceived importance of community treatment, more perceived staff influence on treatment, and treatment for 91–180 days. The 12-step orientation was most strongly associated with having staff specialized in substance abuse. Study findings have implications for developing effective reentry programs for offenders that bridge correctional and community treatment.