Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 Source: Daily Press (VA) Copyright: 2003 The Daily Press Contact: http://www.dailypress.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/585 Author: Robert R. Bradley Jr. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) TREATMENT, NOT PRISONS, FOR ADDICTS Congratulations on your June 1 article concerning America's skyrocketing prison population and the high price we are now paying for it ("As prisons fill to record levels, questions arise"). In addition to the information contained in your article, I would also like to point out a few additional facts that I believe are important for your readers (and our political leaders) to be aware of: The Department of Justice estimates that about 75 percent of those in prison today were involved with drugs or alcohol prior to their arrest, many for simply having drugs in their possession. Recent studies have shown repeatedly that unless they receive proper treatment for their addictions, between 70 and 85 percent of them will be back in prison within three years after being released. Treatment programs can cut re-incarceration rates by two-thirds and save states millions of dollars each year! In evaluating a program operating in the Brooklyn area of New York since 1990, for example, Columbia University recently found that addicts who completed the program were 67 percent less likely to be returned to prison than those who hadn't, producing substantial reductions in both costs and drug-related crime. And previous studies by the University of Delaware and by the state of California also showed reductions in re-incarceration rates of between 60 and 70 percent. I urge your readers to investigate the facts for themselves. History has proved time and time again that treatment is the answer to reducing prison populations, crime and skyrocketing costs. Robert R. Bradley Jr. Chief executive officer Serenity House Newport News - --- MAP posted-by: Josh