Shift from Punishment to Treatment Approach
Introductory Paragraph
Evidence shows that addiction is a treatable disease of the brain, however many individuals do not receive treatment and as a result they end up involved in the criminal justice system from illegal drug-seeking behavior.
Treating those with substance use disorders and illegal behavior helps decrease substance abuse ongoing as well as provides the opportunity to reduce associated criminal tendencies. There are evidence-based strategies that play a role in transforming traditional punishment-based approaches that may be used within the criminal justice system. Moving from a punishment to treatment approach improves both public health and public safety while decreasing rates of future incarceration.[1]
Key Information
"Opioid use disorders are highly prevalent among criminal justice populations. According to data from the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately half of state and federal prisoners meet criteria for substance use disorder." [2]
Relevant Research
Treating Drug Abuse and Addiction in the Criminal Justice System: Improving Public Health and Safety[3]
Impactful Federal, State, and Local Policies
Please list any federal, state, or local laws, policies, or regulations that support this topic or ones that could be a possible barrier. Are there laws or policies other states should know about and replicate for success?
Available Tools and Resources
Oftentimes, there are already great resources in the field that have been developed, but they are not housed in a single place. Please use this section to share information about those resources and drive the reader to that resource. It may be a worksheet, toolkit, fact sheet, framework/model, infographic, new technology, etc. I suggest no more than 5 really good links and a corresponding description for the reader. We also can use this section to highlight some of the great resources and programs at SAFE Project.
Promising Practices
Please link to any best practice models or case studies that highlight creative/innovative or successful efforts in support of this strategy. Is there a community that does a really good job in this area that other communities should replicate? Please write a brief description and provide a link.