Rebuilding Lives. Strengthening Communities.

Increase availability of effective in-prison substance abuse
and mental health treatment.
Recommendation
MAYORAL POLICY CAUCUS ON PRISONER REENTRY
48
Issue
Illinois leads the nation in drug-related crimes. 21 The
number of people incarcerated for drug offenses rose from
7,874 in 1994 to 10,808 in 2003, an increase of 36.9
percent. 22 By 2003, 41 percent of the 35,000 adult
prisoners were convicted of a drug law offense. 23 It is
estimated that, annually, 69 percent of all prison admissions
in Illinois are for crimes associated with drug use
regardless of the specific offense for which the person was
convicted. 24 In fact, 82 percent of all male arrestees in
Chicago tested positive for at least one illegal drug at the
time of their apprehension. 25
National studies reveal that untreated substance abuse is a
major factor in repeated criminality. While approximately
40 percent of all first-time offenders have a history of
substance abuse, more than 80 percent of individuals with
five or more prior convictions have a history of substance
abuse. 26 The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that the
national rearrest rate for drug offenders after three years
increased from 50.4 percent in 1983 to 66.7 percent in
1994. 27 In Illinois, in 2000, 33 percent of former
prisoners were rearrested for a drug offense or returned to
prison because they tested positive for an illegal drug
while on mandatory supervised release or parole. 28 Drug
and property offenders (the latter are largely considered to
be drug-involved) have among the highest recidivism rates
in the Illinois prison population. 29
Substance abuse issues that are not addressed during
incarceration and/or upon return to the community can
severely hinder the reentry process. In the absence of
treatment, the risk of relapse following release from prison
is high. The National Center on Addiction and Substance
Abuse makes this point: “Release of untreated drug- and
alcohol-addicted prisoners is tantamount to visiting criminals
on society.” 30
Despite the incidence of substance abuse and the positive
results from effective treatment programs, in-prison treatment
is not available to most that need it. Nationally, only
10 percent of state prisoners in 1997 reported receiving
formal substance abuse treatment, a decrease from 25
percent in 1991. 31 In comparison, an estimated 70 percent
of prisoners in Illinois are believed to need substance
abuse treatment. 32 In 2001, the Illinois Department of
Corrections (IDOC) had only slightly more than 3,100
substance abuse treatment beds for the estimated 27,000
adult and juvenile prisoners in need. 33