Correctional Service Programs has identified the need to have a more intensified program for federal offenders who have an extensive substance abuse history that are incarcerated in the Canadian Prison System; the Correctional Service Programs (CSP) has implemented two levels of programs as a result to their finding.
The initial program that was implemented is known as High Intensity Substance Abuse Programs also known as (HISAP), which consist of three intensive levels of treatment in which the offenders must complete in order to help reduce the recidivism rate as well as to have a better understanding as to the root of their substance abuse. “The HISAP model places an importance of providing high-need offenders with on-going substance abuse intervention.” T3 Associates (1999), 185. “Phase one is the intensive phase followed by the second phase of required regular maintenance sessions in preparation for release to the community. The third phase involves community programming and a cascading of required maintenance sessions to warrant expiry." Ibid. T3 Associates (1999), 124.
Phase one is the intensive phase in which federal offenders are expected to complete a total of approximately 100 two-hour sessions, eight sessions will be required weekly, in total the HISAP program will be estimated at 5 months in length. After completion of the HISAP program the offenders will not only have an in depth knowledge of their substance abuse / substance dependency, they will have learned how to abstain from using illicit drugs in a structured environment. The majority of the offenders have been in an unstructured environment where they were not held accountable for their actions which could include a number of factors; such as self-medicating due to trauma they may have experienced at some point in their lives, also committing numerous crimes repeatedly before entering
the Canadian Prison system, the list is endless at this point in their lives where the abusing of illicit drugs begins.
The second program is entitled Offender Substance Abuse Pre-Release Program also known as (OSAPP), this program was designed to run parallel to HISAP, which would create a more intensified, lengthier program for federal offenders. The OSAPP program consists of a total of 104 sessions before completion.
The intended end result of the entire process consist of OSAPP and HISAP, is after completion and release from the federal prisons is for the offenders to reduce the times of possible relapse, as well as be able to identify relapse triggers, also to as stated earlier reduce the recidivism rate. The Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates, “during 2007, a total of 1,180,469 persons on parole were at-risk of re-incarceration. This includes persons under parole supervision on January 1 or those entering parole during the year. Of these parolees, about 16% were returned to incarceration in 2007.” Bureau of Justice Statistics-Reentry Trends in the United States (2002), Rev.2102. .
Summary:
Substance abuse is known as a progressive disease. Substance abuse will result in one of three things-jails, institution or death. It is especially hard when it comes to the prison system in this case the Canadian Prison system trying to reduce the number of inmates that have substance abuse disorders. Substance abuse can sometimes be identified as the primary issue of anyone incarcerated or living in the outside world. If the person is not ready to make a change, they will not be able stop using illicit drugs. It is especially difficult for the prison system to know what started a person using drugs without having an in depth clinical assessment completed on each individual.
A clinical assessment will cause further issues for the prison system, due to having to increase staffs that are licensed therapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist. Having to increase staff alone can cause a significant climb in financial budgets for the prison system, the prison system is given a budget yearly as to assist in feeding of the inmates, housing, clothing and medications when needed. The staff that it would take to properly treat each offender can cause a fiscal budget to increase by over 50% of the allocated funding.
The programs in which the Canadian Prison systems have in place HISAP and OSAPP will in a lot of ways assist in the reduction of the offenders hopefully to abstain from using illicit drugs, when they are dually warned of the consequences of returning to prison. OSAPP in module 8 having copings skills as a part of the intensified program will have a strong impact as to how cognitively process the thought of using illicit drugs upon release.
Discussion Question:
What are some things that could be in place as far as community resources to assist offenders upon release from prison that would continue the process of re-offending?
Works Cited
Bureau of Justice Statistics-Reentry Trends in the United States (2002), Rev.2102. .
High Intensity Substance Abuse Programming for Offenders (1997),
Ibid. T3 Associates (1999), 124.
T3 Associates (1999), 185.
