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Focused Offender Disposition Program: Philosophy, Procedures, and Preliminary Findings

NCJ Number
153294
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1993) Pages: 143-160
Author(s)
D C McBride; J A Inciardi
Date Published
1993
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article presents some preliminary findings on the Focused Offender Disposition (FOD) Program, which was established by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in 1988 as one of many responses to the growing numbers of drug-involved offenders coming to the attention of the criminal justice system.
Abstract
The basic purpose of FOD was to develop and test a needs assessment classification system that courts could use for directing drug offenders into the most appropriate type of treatment program. A secondary purpose was to examine the efficacy of urine monitoring as an alternative to treatment. The centerpiece of FOD was the Offender Profile Index, an assessment instrument that yielded a numerical score that suggested four alternative interventions: long-term residential treatment, short-term residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and urine monitoring only. Data from the sites show that FOD was successful in reaching its target numbers of drug-using offenders. FOD was also successful in identifying drug-using offenders with minimal treatment experience who were in need of services. It was effective as well in assessing drug-using offenders and referring them to substance abuse treatment services. 11 tables and 22 references