Drug Treatment Programs In Prisons

Overview

Research into the relationship between drug treatment programs in prison and recidivism rates within Victoria is quite limited in its entirety (Heseltine, Day & Sarre, 2009). However, the use and abuse of illicit drugs by delinquents is a general concern for all who work in criminal justice systems. Many have looked into the relationship between drug use and criminal behaviour and it has been found that there is a close statistical relationship between the two (Dowden & Brown, 2002). The ‘War on Drugs’ focused on incapacitation and deterrence, which resulted in the number of drug involved offenders entering prison to increase substantially (Leukefeld, Gullotta & Gregrich, 2011). According to the Victorian Prison Drug Strategy, for

These principles are as follows

- “Assist addict offenders to identify personal impediments to recovery

- Provide addict offenders with incentives, positive or otherwise, to participate in recovery programs

- Separate participants from general populations as soon as possible

- Reinforce pro-social behaviours rather than attempting to directly reduce the frequency of negative behaviour

- Establish clear, unambiguous rules and consequences for breaking such rules

- Establish clear behavioural contingencies

- Employ ex-offenders/ex-addict staff to serve as role models

- Maintain treatment program integrity, autonomy, flexibility, openness, and fiscal and political support

- Establish continuity of intervention, from outset of custody to termination of custody”

The National Institute on Drug Abuse 1999 once again, outlines principles of effective programs. Some of these include

- “An individual’s treatment and services plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that the plan meets the person’s changing

As stated in a Report looking at prison-based correctional offender rehabilitation programs throughout the nation, in Australia, there is a further need to research, the process of treatments and just as important, the outcomes and effectiveness (Heseltine, Day & Sarre, 2009). At the current time, there is information known about drug treatment programs in prisons internationally, nationally and in Victoria, however, there is a further need to research whether these programs are effective in reducing recidivism rates in a Victorian context. Although there have been attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs, not enough data has not been collated thoroughly, and until this occurs, it is not possible to say that prison-based offender treatment programs have a positive impact on recidivism (Heseltine, Day & Sarre, 2009). Information like this is crucial to future policy makers to allow for a better understanding of the effectiveness of such programs and whether or not there is room for improvement. I want to look at this effectiveness and analyse whether programs, like the ones discussed in this review, are effective in reducing recidivism rates. In order for me to do that the question that needs to be asked is, “are drug rehabilitation programs for adults in