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What are the goals of addiction treatment within the criminal justice system?


Will the criminals still have to undergo addiction treatment when they have gotten out of jail?

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This entry was posted on June 26, 2010, 11:09 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

  1. #1 by abigail lp on June 26, 2010 - 11:17 am

    The main goal, I think, would be to help the person in a way that he would not veer toward the usage of drugs to offend the law again. This will get to lower the crime rate. Treatments within the criminal justice system can also cut drug abuse in half. I believe that treatment should continue even after the individual has been released from jail. He would need it even more because once he is discharged from prison, he would be coming back to the same environment that got him to start doing drugs in the first place. It would be good for him to undergo rehabilitation or join programs such as AA or NA.

  2. #2 by JenH-RN on June 26, 2010 - 11:39 am

    to reduce the rate of reintroduction to the criminal justice system
    addiction is more than just a physical desire for a substance it is mental and emotional as well-

  3. #3 by httnmrtt on June 26, 2010 - 11:47 am

    The only goal of addiction treatment in the CJ penal system is to reduce repeat offenders or recidivism. They are interested in making space available, not the long term welfare of the alumni.

  4. #4 by spacedog_cadet on June 26, 2010 - 12:15 pm

    It depends on a number of factors.
    For example, if released subject to a license, then they will be subject to attendance to Probation. A Probation Officer will asses their needs and refer them if necessary to voluntary or compulsory rehabilitation and treatment. If compulsory, this will be an ‘addon’ to their license (A condition/requirement) Failure to adhere to such a requirement if subject to license will result in their return to prison.
    If the prisoner has completely served their sentence and is not subject to license, then they are free to go and do what they wish – but the criminal justice system will have not obligation to assist them. However, whilst in prison, they may have linked with other agencies which may follow them and provide support and care in their release.
    Sometimes a prisoner can be of a significant level of seriousness, that their release will not be granted early until the have undergone specific drug rehabilitation.

    In regard to the goals of the CJS re: addiction – it is always to reduce risk and prevent re offending – a particular problem with repeat offenders are those that have loads of ‘acquisitive offences’ on their record’ i.e stealing, robbing for money to buy drugs. In this instance, the CJS is going to focus on the risks they present to the public whilst they are addicted and seek to reduce that risk by appropriate interventions.

    The people who will be making the assessment of the prisoner’s needs will be the officers in prison and the probation officer assigned to them.

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