NCJ Number
28011
Date Published
1975
Length
41 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS PROGRAM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO REDUCE CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM, ELIMINATE DRUG DEPENDENCE, PROVIDE INTENSIVE SUPERVISION, AND ESTABLISH A BRIDGE BETWEEN PRISON AND COMMUNITY DRUG TREATMENT FOR RELEASED INMATES.
Abstract
A MAJOR PROGRAM ACTIVITY OF THE ADDICTIVE TREATMENT LIAISON UNIT (ATLU) IS TO RECRUIT CLIENTS PRIOR TO RELEASE AND TO REFER THESE CLIENTS TO COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT FACILITIES. THE PROGRAM IS AIMED AT THOSE PERSONS BEING RELEASED FROM PHILADELPHIA PRISONS WHO HAD BEEN RECEIVING OR HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING DRUG TREATMENT SERVICES WHILE IN PRISON. IN ADDITION TO INFORMATION ON AN ON-GOING PROBATIONER AND PRE-RELEASE CLIENT CENSUS AND SERVICE DELIVERY. THIS REPORT INCLUDES AN OUTCOME STUDY OF 72 ATLU PROBATIONERS' CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES (MEASURED BY ARRESTS) WHILE UNDER SUPERVISION, COMPARED TO SIMILAR ACTIVITIES COMMITTED BY 82 DRUG UNIT AND 97 GENERAL SUPERVISION PROBATIONERS. INFORMATION FOR THE ANALYSIS WAS DERIVED FROM POLICE AND COURT RECORDS AND PROBATION OFFICER REPORTS. IN ADDITION, ATLU PROGRAM DELIVERY WAS COMPARED TO THOSE OF THE DRUG UNIT AND GENERAL SUPERVISION UNIT. THE OUTCOME STUDY RESULTS PROVIDE EVIDENCE IN FAVOR OF THE ATLU PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS IN REDUCING CRIMINAL RECIDIVISM. THE COMPARISON OF THE ARREST RATES FOR THE THREE GROUPS SHOWED THAT ATLU PROBATIONERS DISPLAYED THE LOWEST ARREST RATES. A SUPPLEMENTARY ANALYSIS, COMPARING ARRESTS THROUGH TIME, REVEALED THAT THE ATLU PROGRAM IS ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED ARRESTS COMPARED TO PROBATIONER'S PRE-PROBATION ARREST HISTORIES. ATLU SERVICE DELIVERY WAS FOUND TO BE MORE INTENSIVE REFUNDING IS RECOMMENDED.