A Road Not Taken: Substance Abuse Programming in the New York City Jail System. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Selling, Daniel; Lee, David; Solimo, Angela; Venters, Homer
• Is Part Of: Journal of correctional health care. Volume 21:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 7
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: jail -- substance abuse -- diversion -- program evaluation -- recidivism; Prisoners -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; Prisoners -- Medical care -- United States -- Periodicals; 365.667
• DOI: 10.1177/1078345814557248
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1078-3458

Abstract

Substance abuse represents one of the most common diagnoses in jail settings and features prominently in the path into criminal justice involvement. In addition, substance abuse plays a major role in mortality, morbidity, and recidivism after release from jail. In 2008, a substance abuse treatment program was begun within the New York City jail system, the nation's second largest. This program, A Road Not Taken (ARNT), works collaboratively with courts, security officials within the jail, and community programs to identify inmates who have substance abuse concerns and provide in-jail programming and coordination of treatment after jail. An evaluation of ARNT participants revealed that they experienced a lower rate in incarceration after their program participation than they did before participation.