For most people, the holidays typically bring a sense of joy and comfort, but for those struggling with substance use disorders (SUD) this time of the year can be especially difficult. The winter holidays have become one of the most dangerous times of the year for drug and alcohol-related deaths and relapse. A Healthline survey […]
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Drug and Alcohol Testing in Community Corrections: Some Provocative Findings
Douglas B. Marlowe, J.D., Ph.D. Community corrections officers spend 10 to 40% of their workweek administering and responding to drug and alcohol tests (Alemi et al., 2004; Reichert et al., 2020). They do this because 30 to 50% of probationers and parolees have a moderate to severe substance use disorder (Fearn et al., 2017) and […]
Read MoreRethinking Incarceration and Reducing Revocations
Richmond, Va. – In 2016, 4.5 million people were on community supervision in the United States. This system allows individuals to be held accountable for their actions while still serving their communities, families, and victims. Failure to follow the rules of probation or parole results in a technical violation and in some cases a revocation of […]
Read MorePolice Diversion Programs: From the Criminal Justice System and Into Treatment
Richmond, Va. – Police diversion programs are popping up all over the country, aiming to keep people out of jail by placing them into treatment programs. According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), “Police-initiated diversion programs are pre-court interventions or strategies that police can apply as an alternative to court processing or the imposition […]
Read MorePretrial Justice – An Effective Alternative for Incarceration
Richmond, Va. – People who cannot afford to post bail often remain in jail until their cases are resolved, while those with greater access to financial resources are able to secure liberty. But wealth does not determine risk, which is why national-, state-, and county-level entities are beginning to look at alternatives to incarceration for […]
Read MoreVeteran Treatment Courts Serve a Key Role
Richmond, Va. – The first veteran treatment courts (VTC) was established in Buffalo, New York in 2008. Today, there are 334 Veteran Treatment Courts across the United States, with 35-45 new VTCs starting each year, serving a population with unique needs and restoring some structure and camaraderie found in the military but often lost at […]
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