Report Title:

Appropriation; Drug Treatment Program

Description:

Appropriates funds for department of public safety's drug treatment programs statewide.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

331

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the department of public safety.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The federal government's Bureau of Justice asserts that there is a strong relationship between drug use and crime. Drug users have a greater probability of criminal activity than non-users. Individuals with prior criminal records also are more likely to abuse drugs. According to the Bureau, "More than three out of four inmates report some drug use in their lifetime, 40% used drugs [within] a month before their offense, and 27% were under the influence of drugs at the time of their offenses."

Hawaii is very much part of the national statistics. The majority of Hawaii's inmates are substance abusers and a majority of parole violations involve substance abuse. Failure to first assess all inmates for substance abuse problems and to provide substance abuse education and treatment in prison means that substance abusers will continue to increase Hawaii's prison population and continue to be a problem as parolees. Additionally, Hawaii's people will pay the price in the number of re-arrests and recidivism.

The department of public safety views chemical dependency as a disease of the body, mind, and spirit. The disease of addiction results in severe alienation from self, society, and family. To deal effectively with this disease, the department will focus on the total change in lifestyle that will allow the individual to remain chemical free and reduce the rate of recidivism.

In 1992, Gene Kassebaum, of the University of Hawaii, conducted an in-process and preliminary outcome evaluation of the in-facility therapeutic community at Waiawa correctional facility on Oahu. The study showed that parole survival rates were higher when inmates participated in the therapeutic programs.

Halawa correctional facility's substance abuse programs - level I and II are designed to educate and counsel criminal substance abusers while in prison. More importantly, these programs will prepare and groom inmates for further participation in level III - the KASHBOX program at the Waiawa correctional facility. It is important to begin inmates on levels I and II at least thirty months before their release to ensure completion of these programs.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $       , or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to provide substance abuse treatment for levels I and II minimum custody inmates who are sentenced felons and parole violators with at least thirty months remaining on their sentences at Halawa correctional facility.

SECTION 3. The Crossroads Program is a forty-bed residential, short-term substance abuse treatment program designed for male parole violators identified with a history of substance abuse but that are motivated for treatment. The Crossroads Therapeutic Community is located at the Waiawa correctional facility. Crossroads is a four- to six-month rehabilitation program that focuses on cognitive-behavioral approaches and criminal thinking processes. The program is committed to providing a safe, structured environment that facilitates growth, change, and the process of recovery.

In July 2000, the Crossroads Therapeutic Community moved from KASHBOX to building 5 at the Waiawa correctional facility. The program needs to be equipped with basic furniture and equipment, as well as telephone lines and computer equipment for the program staff. Program counselors are presently using their own personal computers and printers because, previously at KASHBOX, the Crossroads staff shared furniture and equipment with the KASHBOX staff.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $       , or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to provide substance abuse treatment in the Crossroads Program at the Waiawa correctional facility.

SECTION 5. The department of public safety has developed a process for the diagnostic assessment and screening of inmates using the Texas Christian Assessment Instrument (Instrument) administered by substance abuse counselors, to all inmates entering correctional facilities where drug abuse treatment is available.

The Instrument matches the substance abusers with the appropriate level of treatment within the facility or other facilities as well as in the community. The Instrument assigns an inmate to the appropriate in-facility program that may include worklines, education, vocational training, counseling, substance abuse programs, arts and crafts.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment provided at Kauai community correctional center and Maui community correctional center. Consequently, inmates returning to their island of origin will also need to be assessed using the Addiction Severity Index (Index) for diagnosis and treatment planning. Upon completion of the Index, the substance abuse counselor and the facility case manager will be better able to develop treatment plans.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $       , or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to provide diagnostic drug assessment and drug screening programs for Maui community correctional center and Kauai community correctional center.

SECTION 7. Recognizing that at least eighty-five per cent of the inmates at correctional facilities in Hawaii have a history of substance abuse, the department administers the Aloha House Program at the Maui community correctional center. In just the first six months of 2000, forty-five men graduated from Aloha House.

Offenders completing treatment at Aloha House are either referred to a contracted community-based program or paroled directly from the correctional facility without the advantage of transitional services. In the case of the latter, graduates do not have the opportunity to practice skill acquisition and maintain abstinence in a community setting prior to parole. Those graduates are at a greater risk to relapse into active drug and alcohol use, violate parole, or re-offend.

The Project Bridge Program, however, provides treatment counselors to prepare written clinical discharge summaries that include assessment data, treatment plan goals and objectives, progress in treatment, unmet treatment needs, and counselor recommendations. Once admitted to Project Bridge, a client meets with a counselor to develop an individualized transitional treatment plan. It is based on the client's substance abuse assessment instrument, treatment assessment, treatment plan, discharge summary and education and vocational assessment and history. It addresses transitional treatment needs, such as relapse prevention, educational and vocational needs, housing, and family issues.

SECTION 8. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $       , or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the Project Bridge Program at Maui community correctional center.

SECTION 9. Summary of appropriations:

FY FY

Department of Public Safety Programs 2003-04 2004-05

Halawa correctional facility $        $       

Women's correctional facility $        $       

Kauai and Maui correctional centers

for diagnostic drug screening $        $       

Maui correctional center

for Project Bridge $        $       

Total $        $       

SECTION 10. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 11. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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