Is Drug Treatment a Viable Alternative to Prison Time?

Prisons and county prisons are densely populated, prisoners sleeping on the floor in some prisons. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (from Senator Jeanne Shaheen: overcrowded in prison in 2011) said federal prison capacity now exceeds 35%. Because of overcrowding, the criminal justice system and taxpayers spend more money to move prisoners to litigation against other facilities and prisons. Since prisons and county prisons are in severe overcrowding and drug treatment options are a viable alternative to prison time, we need to implement drug / treatment options in more states.

Brooklyn 's Pharmacotherapy Alternative Prison (DTAP) program in Brooklyn, NY confirmed guilty of alcohol or drug addiction and entered the inpatient community treatment system as a substitute for imprisonment within two years thereafter. The evaluation of DTAP by the National Center for College of Medicine for drug addiction and drug abuse has recently discovered that the program has reduced recidivism and drug use, increased employment potential and achieved significant results in savings in cost monitoring . In addition, the assessment found that the average cost of participation in the DTAP, including accommodation therapy, vocational training and support services, was $ 32,974 - if the participants were sent during the average period, Half of the average cost was $ 64,338. 25 months

An alternative to prison and rehabilitation. There should not be too many people in prison. For them, medication, mental health, intensive rehabilitation, and vocational training are better choices. Prisons often become reservoirs of psychosis and poisoning. This method does not work, it does not guarantee our safety. Important Federal Criminal Justice Reform is to enable judicial discretion to motivate federal jurisdiction to establish these problem solving courts and to seek alternative practices that can change behavior without being imprisoned Should be included. For neighbors and families with mental health and addiction problems prisons should be the last choice, not the first choice.