0 - National Criminal Justice Reference Service

counselor and through institutional TV and routine interviews via a call list. Referrals can be made
by their correctional counselor, who is asked to provide the group leader or Drug and Alcohol
Supervisor with the inmate’s name, number, and housing and work assignment on a standard
“memorandum report form”. The correctional counselor is also to identa the target date on this
memo, which could be the minimum release date or other important date (such as pre-release
staffing date, etc.). This allows enough preparation time for proper programming efforts.
Referrals can also result from inmate interviews. Referrals can be made by counselors or by the
inmates themselves. Admission to the LSTC can be initiated by the established institution stafig
procedure, by using the DC-46 Vote Sheet, which includes a space for the DATS Supervisor as a
voting member.
From the inmate interviews, we found that inmates heard about the TC program in a number of
ways. Several heard about it during their initial interview when they arrived at Huntington.
Several had counselors suggest it to them because they knew they had addiction problems. One
inmate saw a fiiend of his go into TC and come out a changed person in all his aspects of life, not
just with addiction, so he wanted to change also.
4. What are the specific eligibility requirements for this program (e.g., type and seriousness of D
& A problem, time remaining in sentence)? Are exceptions made? [Source: program
documents, DATS SupervisorMgr.1.
0
A Condensed Summary of the LSTC says that the DAT Supervisor makes the decision about
the inmate’s needs and appropriateness for TC treatment based on a drug & alcohol interview and
an assessment conducted by DATS Supervisor. For a specific inmate whose case file we
examined, his eligibility was determined by looking at the Pennsylvania Substance Abuse
Screening Instrument (on which he scored a 9), the Housing Performance report (which is
completed by the C/O’S, like a vote sheet), and the Work Supervisor Evaluation form.
5. Decision to admit (or not): Who makes the decision? What are the most important criteria?
About what percentage of referrals are rejected? [Source: program documents, DATS
SupewisorMgr.].
Policy 7.4.1 -HUN 1 illustrates ten specific criteria that are considered when an inmate is referred
to the LSTC:
0 It cannot be less than 6 months to their minimum parole date.
0 The inmate must have documented drug andor alcohol dependency.
0 The inmate cannot display any psychosis or intellectual functioning that precludes
comprehension of objectives and participation in program activities.
0 There must be voluntary commitment to complete the program.
0 They must have medical clearance. Inmates that are referred cannot be undergoing other
forms of treatment that will interfere with their ability to participate in the program.
0 The inmate must be literate or at least have the capacity to become so. A major - - portion of the
program involves reading and maintaining a written journal. Education is also a major
0 component.
Must be double cell status.
2
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.