More substance abuse treatment available for inmates

Local News

Discussion

September 30, 2008

By RONNIE ELLIS The Glasgow Daily Times Tue Sep 30, 2008, 10:31 AM CDT

Kevin Pangburn, director of the Department of Corrections’ Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, says about 80 percent of the state’s inmates have substance abuse issues.

Four years ago the state had treatment programs in six of its prisons and two in county jails providing a total of 475 beds. But with 21,700 state inmates, 80 percent works out to 17,360 inmates needing access to those 475 beds.

“We were certainly overpromising and underserving,” Pangburn told the Criminal Justice Council Monday.

The council is looking to make recommendations to Gov. Steve Beshear and the legislature for ways to reduce prison costs and populations.

There’s some help on the way, Pangburn said.

There are now programs in 15 county jails and the General Assembly – in its two-year budget, House Bill 406 – provided funding for 10 more that should be ready next spring. That means, Pangburn said, the state can serve between 1,800 and 2,000 inmates a year.

Each inmate is now evaluated upon entering the system and the information is immediately downloaded to the University of Kentucky Center for Alcohol and Drug Research.

“This is the best way that a person who comes into the Department of Corrections goes out differently,” Pangburn told the council.

Pangburn couldn’t provide a precise cost of the program – the data is being collected now to determine how much it costs on top of the usual costs of incarceration. (Usual estimates put the cost of housing a state inmate at more than $20,000 a year.) But Pangburn said most of the cost for the treatment program comes from either federal programs or from money specifically appropriated by the General Assembly. It does not come out of the DOC budget.

It’s clearly a savings in the long run, Pangburn said.

“For every dollar spent, I think we’ll save $4.75 or $5,” he said.

Studies routinely tie substance abuse problems to criminal behavior. Those treated in long-term, residential treatment programs typically have much lower rates of relapse – or recidivism.

Another program through 10 Kentucky Recovery Centers offers help, too. Originally conceived as a response to homelessness during the administration of former Gov. Ernie Fletcher, the centers now make 33 beds available to DOC for parole violators with substance abuse problems. And that number might increase to 50.

Republican senators Dan Kelly and Robert Stivers have previously sponsored legislation to create more such treatment programs as an alternative to imprisonment, but the measure has died in the House. The money for the extra programs in county jails was inserted into the budget during negotiations between the Senate and House.

The council is expected to deliver recommendations on ways to cut costs and reduce prison populations to Beshear by the first of December.

Text Only

Local News

MORNING UPDATE: Fatal wreck on Burkesville Road
May 26, 2012
Jail staff challenges Ober’s report
A long list of allegations made by a private investigator against the Barren County Detention Center is being challenged by a majority of the jail employees, who say they have not witnessed anything illicit.

May 25, 2012
BBBS honors volunteers Bell, Click
There’s no doubt about it. Tamara Click and Price Bell love spending time with their “little sister and little brother.”

May 25, 2012
Magistrates defend decision
Almost a month after a private investigator presented his summary report about the Barren County Detention Center and nearly five months since the initial vote for an investigation, the members of the Barren County Fiscal Court are standing by their decisions.

May 25, 2012
Park, students form partnership
Barren County Middle School and officials from Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP) began a partnership in 2009 through a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, according to a district news release.

May 25, 2012
Cemetery dedication planned Sunday
On Sunday, a dedication ceremony culminating efforts of several concerned citizens who restored the cemetery will take place at 2 p.m. at the D.F. West Cemetery on Ky. 70 near Hiseville.

May 25, 2012
No swimming allowed at lake for Memorial Day
Don’t visit Barren River Lake this Memorial Day weekend and expect to go swimming.

May 25, 2012
2:10 AFTERNOON UPDATE: Hart Co. man arrested for trafficking
May 25, 2012
9:03 a.m. Morning Update: Glasgow firefighters and Barren-Metcalfe EMS respond to wreck with injuries
May 25, 2012
Late Night Update: Investigation continues regarding injured teen
Very little is known about the circumstances surrounding a 15-year-old Barren County boy who was found seriously injured and lying in a ditch alongside his bicycle on Dripping Springs Road late Monday night.

May 24, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

More substance abuse treatment available for inmates

Site Map