Steven Belenko
Professor Of Criminal Justice, Temple University
Key Findings
- Drug offenses account for a substantial amount of inmates in prisons but the severity, recency of use, and consequences of drug use vary widely among inmates.
- Approximately one-third of incarcerated men were in need of residential drug treatment.
- Approximately half of incarcerated females were in need of residential drug treatment.
- Nearly half the incarcerated men and one-third of incarcerated women needed a range of short-term to no drug treatment options.
Description
In the book, “Estimating drug treatment needs among state prison inmates,” Belenko and his co-authors examine the need for drug rehabilitation treatment in state prisons. Over the last 20 years, substance-related offenses have greatly contributed to the population of incarcerated individuals in the United States. To build on previous studies, which have shown that drug treatment programs in prisons reduces recidivism and relapses after release, the authors aimed to more effectively match treatment options for inmates. To conduct their study, the researchers used data from the 1997 Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities, which included a nationally representative group of more than 14,280 inmates from 275 state prisons. The results showed that although drug offenses account for a substantial amount of inmates in prisons, the severity, recency of use, and consequences of drug use vary widely among inmates. Approximately one-third of incarcerated men were in need of residential drug treatment. Approximately half of incarcerated females were in need of residential drug treatment. Nearly half of the incarcerated men and one-third of incarcerated women needed a range of short-term to no drug treatment options. In conclusion, the authors note that further research to facilitate drug treatment options to inmates is required to fill the need for these options in state prisons.