0 - National Criminal Justice Reference Service

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Finding: TC programs varied little in terms of criteria such as intensity (hours per week) and
duration (number of months). However, two of the TC programs did not use pull-ups, and
individual counseling was provided inconsistently. Therapeutic engagement and inmate
satisfaction, as assessed by inmate interviews, self-report surveys, and counselor ratings, varied
somewhat across the five TC programs.
Recommendations:
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7. While new DOC drug treatment policies and procedures identifl standards for each
program type, DOC administrators should carefdly monitor (e.g., through inmate selfreports,
inmate and counselor interviews, and periodic site visits) the implementation of
these standards at different institutions.
8. Correctional administrators, working with drug treatment specialists, treatment
supervisors and correctional program managers, should identifl strategies for on-site
quality control in drug treatment programming. Officials should examine whether current
resources devoted to program quality assurance are sufficient (see ONDCP, 1999,
DeLeon, 2000). Officials should examine the feasibility of a Statewide Integrated Quality
Assurance Model (SIQAM) for prison-based TC programs (Kressel, Zompa and DeLeon,
2002). This model is based upon the TC framework developed by DeLeon (2000) and
critical program standards jointly developed by Therapeutic Communities of America
(TCA) and the American Correctional Association.
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Information Systems
A good information system serves several purposes. First and foremost, a good
information system can demonstrate accountability to funding agents (e.g., state legislatures) and
other stakeholders. A good information system is also usefhl for planning: it allows program
managers or policy makers to see how well current plans are going, identifl problems, and make
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This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.