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CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE

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LEGISLATION ON FUNDING FOR JAIL-BASED TREATMENT (4/9/98)

Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) has introduced legislation to make federal funding more accessible to county jails. A vote could be taken soon, as an amendment to the Juvenile Justice bill.

BACKGROUND
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) estimates that approximately three-quarters of of prison inmates -- and over over one-half of those in jails or on probation -- are substance abusers. Yet only a small percentage of inmates participate in treatment programs while they are incarcerated.

Currently, states are allowed to spend federal funding on local treatment programs that are at least six months in duration. Senator Lugar's legislation, S. 1876, will reduce the required treatment time to three months, making more county and local jails eligible. States will be able to spend up to 10 percent of the funds that are now avaialable for the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program (R-SAT).

Other criteria for funding for the Jail-Based Substance Abuse Treatment Program (J-SAT) will be:

1. the program must have been in existence for at least two years; and,
   
   
2. the treatment program must include drug testing.

Grant recipients will also be encouraged to provided the widest range of aftercare services possible, including job training, education and self-help programs.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Write to Senator Orrin Hatch, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and ask him to support S. 1876 as part of the Juvenile Justice bill moving through his committee. Please send a copy of your letter to Senator Lugar, so that he will know his legislation has our support. A sample letter follows:

The Honorable Orrin Hatch
Chairman, Judiciary Committee
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510


Dear Senator Hatch:

On behalf of (name of Affiliate), I strongly urge you to include support S. 1876 as part of the Juvenile Justice bill moving through your committee. This legislation, introduced by Senator Lugar, would make much needed funding for substance abuse treatment available to local correctional facilities.

Providing treatment to people incarcerated in county jails is very cost-effective. Currently, the federal government allows money to be spent on six month programs, through the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program (R-SAT). S. 1876 would allow funding to be spent on three month jail- based substance abuse treatment programs (J-SAT). Programs would be required to have in existence for at least two years and must include drug testing.

Since a large percentage of inmates commit crimes while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, it makes sense to treat their addictions. The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) states that providing treatment while in prison and under post-incarceration supervision can reduce recidivism by roughly 50 percent.

We need to focus more energy on treating the addictions that lead many people to commit crimes. Senator Lugar's legislation will help county and local jails deal with the overwhelming problems resulting from the use of alcohol and other drugs.

Sincerely,