Welcome to The Senate Site

By Mary Lou Emerson
Director, Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Coordinating Council

At any given point in time, as many as 85% of offenders incarcerated in Utah’s prisons have substance abuse problems related to their criminal activity. We have long been aware of the relationship between drugs and crime, and that locking drug abusers up will not solve the problem. More often than not, when these offenders are released from prison, they will continue to abuse drugs and commit crimes related to their drug habit. Further, these offenders are taking up valuable prison beds that should be reserved for only the most serious and dangerous offenders.

In 2007, the Utah Legislature took action to address the vicious cycle of drug abuse and crime by passing the Drug Offender Reform Act and appropriating $8 million to provide screening, assessment, supervision and treatment services for offenders with substance abuse problems. Research has shown that the frequency and severity of crime escalate as drug use increases, and that substance abuse intensifies and sustains criminal activity. We also know that substance abuse treatment in a criminal justice setting, whether it be in prison or jail, or in the community while on probation or parole, has proven effective. The Drug Offender Reform Act, or DORA, will address the root causes of much of the crime being in committed in Utah, by making effective substance abuse treatment available throughout the state for those offenders with drug dependencies.

The statewide implementation of DORA began on July 1, 2007. As of this date, Utah’s courts are now required to order every offender convicted of a felony to participate in a screening, an assessment if indicated, and substance abuse treatment if determined to be appropriate. The screening is a preliminary appraisal of the offender’s substance use, and determines whether a more comprehensive problem assessment is needed. The assessment is an in-depth examination of the offender’s substance use/abuse that is used to determine if treatment is needed and at what level of care (day treatment, outpatient, residential, etc.).

DORA implementation is overseen by a State DORA Oversight Committee and Local DORA Implementation Teams throughout the state that involve collaboration among the Courts, Corrections, substance abuse treatment providers, and prosecutors and defense attorneys. This collaboration ensures offender issues are addressed immediately, with a team supervision approach that greatly increases the chance for success.

As of the first of May, 2008 an estimated 1,003 felony offenders had been assessed by Local Substance Abuse Authority agencies throughout the state, and 616 offenders had been admitted to DORA treatment services. It’s a great start toward saving lives, reducing drug use and crime, and increasing the health and safety of Utah’s communities!

1 Comments:

 mary said...

hay
It’s a great start toward saving lives, reducing drug use and crime, and increasing the health and safety communities!
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Drug Alcohol Rehab

www.drugalcoholrehab.net

6/20/2008 12:02 AM  

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