The Correctional Opportunity: Pathways to Drug Treatment for Offenders

Abstract

The incarceration of persons found guilty of various crimes who are also chronic substance abusers presents an important opportunity for treatment. It is an important opportunity because they would be unlikely to seek treatment on their own, without treatment they are very apt to continue their drug use and criminality after release, and cost effective drug abuse treatment methods are now available to treat them while in custody (both during incarceration and aftercare) and significantly alter their lifestyles. Correctional authorities should now feel optimistic that chronic heroin and cocaine users with predatory criminal histories can be treated effectively. This article shares the success of the Stay'n Out and Cornerstone Programs that have been successful with serious drug abusing offenders, and the factors that make for success. It is the proper program components joined by thoughtful leadership in the right setting. These principles are generalizable and transferable to many locations.