Residential Substance Abuse Program

In July 2004, the Department had 1,965 contracted residential beds on line to provide substance abuse treatment for probationers. On June 30, 2005, $1.2 million in Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant funding expired which caused the department to reduce the number of existing contracted beds. Attempts to have these funds transferred to general revenue were unsuccessful.

In FY 2006-07, the department was appropriated general revenue funding for fifteen additional RSAT beds (recurring) in Panama City. There currently exists a need to restore beds to the FY 2004-05 levels to address the statewide waiting list of offenders to receive this intensive treatment. In order to meet the demand for this offender population and reduce recidivism, the department is requesting an additional $1,465,074 in general revenue to fund 89 contracted residential beds. The per diem associated with these beds is $45.10, which represents the average per diem rate of contracted beds in FY 2006-07.