Therapeutic Communities Model Summary

Therapeutic communities model is a model of prison-based drug treatment which inmate struggling with drug addiction is separated from the rest of the prison population. Therapeutic communities programs have been shown to lower the likelihood of recidivism, years after incarceration. Based on the review of the literature, the following recommendations are suggested for correctional administrators:
- Implementing more therapeutic communities treatment can lead to reductions in re-arrests due to further drug arrests.
- Implementing more therapeutic communities treatment can lead to a more broad range of options for those in low income areas.
- Implementing therapeutic communities treatment can lead to a decrease in more disorders than drug

abuse such as mental disorders.
Statement of the Problem
Drug abuse has shown to have a direct correlation with offending. Drug abuse puts a strain on society and the criminal justice system. The Federal Bureau of Prisons statistics state that 46.4 percent of people incarcerated in federal prisons in 2016 were drug offenders. According to a study in 2007 by the National Drug Intelligence Center, the cost to society of drug abuse was $193 billion, including criminal justice system costs and costs borne by the victims of crime. Often drug treatment programs are too costly to the individual and society, too long in length of time and less catered to different types of addiction intensity. Drug offenders have one of the highest recidivism rates of any other offender, prisons needs to implement more treatment programs in order for people to stop re-committing.
Therapeutic Communities
The mission of therapeutic communities in correctional facilities is to rehabilitate and reform drug abusers, through learning healthy behaviors and habilitation to integrate those healthy behaviors are a routine.

Therapeutic communities are among one of the most common forms of drug treatment in prisons. Group activities are an integral part of this treatment model. Therapeutic communities(TC's) directs the entire intervention around many aspects of an individual, "TCs are designed to encourage treatment engagement and personal reflection by utilizing group activities and exercise; addressing other lifelong adjustment problems, such as unemployment and vocational deficits"(Olson and Lurigio,

2014).
Individuals with drug problems are very diverse group who earn their addiction through many different life experiences.

For a drug treatment program to work, the treatment has to be comprehensive and has the ability to conform to every individual situation. Lessons learned in the TC must be internalized in order for their treatment to sufficiently keep the inmate off drugs after their release. The first step for inmates to start their treatment is to understand why they are there, "TCs require participants to assume personal responsibility for their own recovery and to work with others in the community to become sober, law-abiding citizens"(Olson and Lurigio, 2014).
For people in prison, time is one of the few resources that is widely available to them. TCs segregate individuals out of prison culture to help them develop pro-social values. Therapeutic communities work hard at giving inmates strict discipline along with a good learning environment. The program uses groups and individuals to provide each other affirmation, instruction and positive feedback. Inmates get to interact with other recovering addicts who can be role models and help develop pro-social values and a positive work ethic.
Literature

Review
The Sheridan Correctional Center study in Illinois constructed a facility to house a daily population of around 950 inmates who were participating in the TC program. This study looked at the recidivism rate of the first 1501 program graduates compared to a sample of 2858 inmates with similar backgrounds and characteristics. The group of inmates was much larger than the group of inmates who took part of the program in order to detect small differences more efficiently. They looked at other variables such as time served and the number of previous prison sentences. Finding showed that after the program there was a 15% lower likelihood of recidivism than the comparison group.
An evaluation of a Delaware Correctional facility which used a multistage therapeutic community system followed the 690 individuals who took part of the treatment and saw where they were at 5 years later. The findings of this evaluation showed that there was a substantial difference in the likelihood for a relapse when comparing those who dropped out of the program and those who stayed in. There was also an increase in the likelihood of a relapse when comparing program graduates and graduates who went through an aftercare program. An argument made against TC is that the effects of the treatment are short lived, "among the treatment graduates, 58% had been rearrested and 79% had relapsed to drug use by the time of the 60-month follow-up. Moreover, even among the treatment graduates who also had aftercare, 52% had been rearrested and 71% had relapsed"( Inciardi, Martin, and Butzin, 2004). However a counter point is that TC is generally used for those dealing with the worst of addicts.
Prevalence
According to information given in 2012 from the South Carolina Department of Corrections, there were 8,849 inmates that were chemically dependent, meaning that they are addicted to any given substance. Unfortunately, in South Carolina there were only 621 spot available to inmates, showing a very strong lack in availability for treatment help. Because of this, the treatment is very selective.
Implications and Recommendations
When looking at the availability of treatment for inmates who struggle with drug addiction, it is obvious that policy makers need to create more programs that can keep inmates off drugs. Drug addiction comes in many different levels of severity, TCs tend to cater to those who have a serious drug addiction. When looking at the data shown in the case studies presented, you can see that there is a positive effect in terms of recidivism for those who will keep committing crimes due to their addiction. " the effects of prison-based drug treatment and aftercare services were notable, reducing recidivism by an average of more than 44% in both regression models for SCC releasees compared with prison releasees from non-dedicated drug treatment facilities in the IDOC. Overall TC participation reduced recidivism by an average of only 15%"( Olson and Lurigio, 2014).
Helping these inmates with their addiction not only helps keep them out of prison but helps the overall well being of society, " One way to help ensure public safety and to build families and communities is to make sure that these former prisoners have the tools necessary to lead crime free lives and to fit into the society. There are cost-effective approaches to dealing with substance abusing offenders that are being utilized"(McVay, Schiraldi, and Ziedenberg, 2004)
One major factor that determines how long an individual is able to stay clean outside of prison, is how long they actually stay in the program. The two main elements that are lacking is the availability of treatment and the length of time an inmate can stay in the program. Policy makers should make it a point to keep these people involved and make it possible for more people to be a part of it. This will not only cut crime, but can reduce substance abuse and recidivism while building communities