Relating to substance abuse treatment for offenders in the criminal justice system.

Updated: April 29, 1999

Alaskans pay a high price when quality treatment services are not available. These significant impacts increase community hospital costs, court costs, policing and entitlement programs for the delivery of health and social services. They also increase needs for greater capacity in Alaska's correctional facilities.

Studies within the Department of Corrections show that alcoholism and other drug abuse interfere with efforts to rehabilitate offenders. They cite national data that indicate over eighty percent of offenders were either under the influence of alcohol or other drugs when they committed offenses or their addiction contributed to their criminal behavior.

At present, some treatment or education is offered in each correctional facility in the state. No prison provides services to all prisoners who need or want the service. Nor does any prison provide a continuum of services to the prison population. In addition, there are 27 treatment beds in community treatment programs set aside for prisoners after release from correctional facilities. These beds do not meet current needs. This contributes to recidivism by those who cannot receive treatment upon release.

HCR 11 encourages that efforts within the criminal justice system and at the legislative level be spent on responding to substance abuse with the goal of reducing recidivism.