Criminal Justice System Strategy for Treating Cocaine-Heroin Abusing Offenders in Custody

Recent research provides ample evidence that offender populations are composed of large numbers of drug abusers and that drug-involved offenders commit substantial numbers of undetected crimes. Criminal justice agencies, however, have few strategies for routinely detecting and intervening in the drug use of arrested heroin and cocaine abusers. There is little evidence that criminal justice sanctions alone are as effective as drug treatment in reducing the drug use and criminality of cocaine-heroin abusers at liberty. Research indicates that the criminality of heroin abusers is substantially reduced while they are receiving some form of treatment. The experiences of effective programs indicate that the treatment method must have a sound theoretical and empirical basis for its implementation. The policy recommendations of this study focus on the identification of heroin and cocaine abusers at arrest, jail-based interventions, in-prison programs, and community treatment options. Also included are systemwide recommendations pertaining to the organization and staffing of drug abuse treatment programs. A model for prison-based drug treatment is provided. Glossary, 35 reference notes, 122 combined references and bibliography.