The proportion of drug-using offenders among the 1.4 million inmates in state prisons and local jails is even higher, but less than 20 percent of prison inmates actually participate in drug treatment programs. According to recent studies, cost-effective drug testing and treatment programs consistently reduce recidivism rates for offenders. RSAT, which is authorized in the President's 1994 Crime Act, assists states and units of local government in developing and implementing substance abuse treatment programs in state and local prisons and jails. States are encouraged to adopt comprehensive approaches to substance abuse testing and treatment for offenders, including relapse prevention and aftercare services. Each offender spends between 6 and 12 months in treatment, which is the amount of time research tells us is needed for these programs to work.
Drug testing is a key element to the success of any substance abuse treatment strategy.
States that apply for funding must agree to implement or continue to require reliable forms of drug and alcohol testing of individuals assigned to treatment programs in correctional facilities. In addition, states are required to give preference to programs that provide aftercare services to participants. In April 1997, OJP brought together representatives from all 50 states' corrections agencies, state adult and juvenile substance abuse programs, and the administrators of state criminal justice planning agencies to discuss drug treatment and testing issues. Also discussed were the drug testing provision in the 1997 Appropriations Act for the Department of Justice, which requires all states to implement a program of controlled substance abuse testing, sanctioning, and intervention with clearly articulated policies and procedures. The Breaking the Cycle project is designed to test the hypothesis that, if the criminal justice system were to test every arrestee for illicit drug use and offer treatment, sanctions, or continued testing for all defendants with drug problems, the levels of drug abuse and criminal behavior would decline significantly.