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OREGON MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM IN CORRECTIONS

NCJ Number
66526
Author(s)
C AKINS; R ECKERT
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A COOPERATIVE OREGON PROGRAM INVOLVING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND CORRECTIONS DIVISIONS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES IS DESCRIBED; IT PROVIDES TREATMENT TO INCARCERATED PERSONS WITH ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG PROBLEMS.
Abstract
INITIATED IN 1976, THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE SEPARATE COMPONENTS. THE IN-PRISON COMPONENT PROVIDES COUNSELING FOR UP TO 160 INMATES AT A TIME USES COUNSELORS WHO VISIT THE PRISON SETTING AS CONSULTANTS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION, NOT AS EMPLOYEES OF CORRECTIONS. A HOSPITAL COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM IS LOCATED AT THE STATE'S PRIMARY MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTION AND TREATS INMATES PREPARING FOR DISCHARGE FROM CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. THIS PHASE, SERVING BOTH TREATMENT AND CORRECTIONS FUNCTIONS, IS DESCRIBED AS SIMILAR TO A HALFWAY HOUSE. FROM IT, THE CLIENT IS INTRODUCED TO THE THIRD PROGRAM COMPONENT, A VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY TREATMENT SERVICE. A CHIEF DIFFICULTY OF THE IN-PRISON PROGRAM HAS BEEN THE LACK OF MUTUAL APPRECIATION OF THE PERSONNEL FROM THE TWO HUMAN SERVICES INVOLVED. PROBLEMS WITH THE HOSPITAL PROGRAM HAVE STEMMED FROM INMATES' ADJUSTMENT DIFFICULTIES TO THE GREATER FREEDOM OF THE HOSPITAL SETTING IN COMPARISON WITH THE MAXIMUM SECURITY CONDITIONS FROM WHICH THEY CAME. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM SUFFERS FROM A HIGH DROPOUT RATE AND RECURRENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. IN GENERAL, HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM IS DEEMED SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THE OBJECTIVES OF OFFERING THE POSSIBILITIES OF REDUCED SUBSTANCE ABUSE, REDUCED CRIMINALITY, AND REDUCED PRESSURES WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. THE HIGH STAFF-CLIENT RATIO AND THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF TRAINING HAVE MADE THIS A PARTICULARLY EXPENSIVE PROGRAM IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT UNDERTAKINGS. FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM IS LARGELY DRAWN FROM OREGON'S TAX ON BEER AND WINE SALES AND OTHER STATE PROVISIONS. ILLUSTRATIVE CHARTS ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)