The Revolving Prison Door for Drug-Involved Offenders: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

This article examines the role of drugs in increasing the incarcerated population in the United States. Research is increasingly demonstrating the effectiveness of treatment for incarcerated populations in reducing recidivism and drug use, especially treatment in a therapeutic community (TC). Transitional services that include TC treatment in a work release setting greatly reduce recidivism and relapse, as do aftercare services. Although treatment options are increasing in prisons, there are many more who could benefit from treatment than receive it. Much remains unknown about how to best reach drug-involved offenders to stop the revolving door of drug addiction and incarceration. This article touches on many relevant areas ripe for further research.

Mental Health and Substance-Related Treatment Utilization, Dropout, and Continuity of Care among Detained Adolescents: A 14-Year Longitudinal Study

“…Again, the majority of DAs experienced these outcomes within two years of release from detention. As found in prior research (Grunwald et al, 2010;Harrison, 2001), such findings highlight the revolving door problem, in which DAs are stuck in an ongoing cycle of juvenile justice system involvement by being repeatedly arrested, detained, released, re-arrested, redetained, and sometimes placed in the adult prison population. Being stuck in the revolving door of the juvenile justice system is problematic because it reduces the likelihood of obtaining evidence-based mental health treatment services and interferes with successful reintegration into the community (Bullis et al, 2002;Calley, 2012;Samuel, 2015).…”

“…Recidivism is common among DAs, with an estimated 40%-70% of adolescents getting re-arrested following release from detention or prison (Gordon, Diehl, & Anderson, 2012;Grunwald, Lockwood, Harris, & Mennis, 2010). As a result, many of these juveniles return to correctional facilities and become stuck in a "revolving door" within the juvenile justice system, in which they are repeatedly arrested, detained, released, re-arrested, and re-detained (Harrison, 2001;Maschi et al, 2008). Unfortunately, the end result of this revolving door is often longterm incarceration in the adult prison population (Hussey et al, 2008).…”

Drug treatment services for adult offenders: The state of the state

“…Studies have shown-and continue to show-that without treatment, substance-abusing offenders will invariably repeat the same types of behaviors that led to their criminal justice status (Harrison, 2001). This is exemplified in statistics showing that among the nearly 300,000 prisoners released in 15 states in 1994, 67.5% were rearrested within 3 years and 51.8% were back in prison (Langan & Levin, 2002).…”

Gangs, Guns, and Drugs: Recidivism Among Serious, Young Offenders*

“…A national study of inmates in federal and state institutions in 1997 revealed that 83% of all state inmates reported ever using drugs, 57% had used drugs in the month before the offense, and 52% were using drugs at the time of the offense (Mumola, 1999). Drug offenders also have some of the highest rates of parole violations and reconviction (Chaiken and Chaiken, 1990;Harrison, 2001;Langan and Levin, 2002). For example, 67% of drug offenses released from prison in 1994 were reconvicted (Langan and Levin, 2002).…”