Pubdate: Mon, 11 Feb 2002
Source: American Press (LA)
Copyright: 2002 Shearman Corporation
Contact:  http://www.americanpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/926
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

EARLY RELEASE PROGRAM SHOULD BENEFIT STATE

Under a law passed last year, nonviolent drug offenders could be granted 
early release from prison to relieve overcrowding and state cost.

Act 403 establishes three panels to review applications of nonviolent 
offenders to gauge their risk to the public if they were released. Those 
panels will make recommendations to the Probation and Parole boards for 
clemency or parole.

The increased demand on the state department of public safety and 
corrections should be relieved by the Legislature's approved funding for 67 
new positions.

Most released prisoners are guilty of drug-related crimes.

The act, passed during last year's regular session, also repeals minimum 
mandatory sentences and reduces the length of sentences.

The state projects that 1,247 offenders will be diverted or released from 
secure facilities with a total saving of $5 million.

The state can reap more social and economic benefits of Act 403 if eligible 
inmates are closely monitored in effective drug treatment programs, 
preferably before and after their release.

The Brooklyn Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison program, for instance, 
diverts prison-bound drug offenders to residential drug treatment for 15 to 
24 months. The program costs $18,000 per offender versus $44,000 for the 
first year of incarceration and $30,000 for each following year in state 
prison. The 19 percent recidivism rate for DTAP graduates is in stark 
contrast to the 46 percent rate for similar defendants who did not 
participate. Recidivism is the rate at which offenders re-commit crimes.

Also, the National Institute of Justice Research found that drug offenders 
who received 12 to 15 months of treatment in prison, followed by six months 
of drug treatment and job training, were more than twice as likely to be 
drug-free than offenders who only received treatment in prison. Offenders 
who received both forms of treatment were also more likely to be 
arrest-free 18 months after release - 71 percent versus 48 percent.

Louisiana will benefit most from Act 403 if the issue of recidivism is also 
addressed.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl