Non-Secure Drug Treatment Programs:Sept. 1, 1991-December 31, 1999

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Non-Secure Drug Treatment Program was implemented on September 1, 1991. Between that date and December 31, 1999, 20,921 offenders were released from the non-secure drug treatment programs. About half, 11,206 (53.5%), had successfully completed a program, 8,209 (39.2%) had failed to complete the program, and 1,506 (7.1%) were terminated for medical or administrative reasons. Rates of program completion vary from a low of 39.8% to a high of 67.8% among the 26 facilities.

Across all facilities, 5,014 (23.9%) of offenders had been recommitted to state prison by December 31, 1999. Some 4,803 (22.9%) had been returned to some form of community supervision, while 11,109 (53%) had no recommitment. Recommitment rates increase as the time since program termination increases. Prison recommitment rates increase from 8% for offenders in their first year to 27.9% after 2 or more years.

Among offenders who successfully complete programs, 62.3% have no recommitment, and 82.4% have no recommitment to state prison. Over 92.2% of successful program completers are not recommitted to prison or supervision during their first year after completion. That figure drops to 53.3% after 2 or more years. But only 20.9%, even after 2 years, are recommitted to prison.

Successful program completion generally increases with age. Among those age 19 and under, only 36.8% successfully completed programs, while 58.4% of those age 35-39 and 67.4 of those age 50-54 did so. Recommitments also vary by age. Among those 19 and under, 28.5% have been recommitted to state prison, compared to only 22.1% of those age 35-39 and 14.5% of those age 50-54.

The facilities have served a total of 17,272 males and 5,013 females, 12,525 white offenders, 9,565 black offenders, and 195 other ethnic categories. A total of 22,285 offenders have been served by these facilities.

The average time to successful program completion is 182 days, and the average time to program failure is 79 days.