Alternatives to Incarceration. A Smart Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Drug Use and Crime. Criminal Justice Brief

摘要

Decades of research and experience have shown that drug use and criminal behavior are inextricably linked. Drug-involved offenders contribute significantly to the burdens of state and local corrections and community supervision systems. More important, these offenders can place a burden on the health, safety, and well-being of themselves, their families, and their communities. Much too frequently, an unfortunate pattern occurs among this population: soon after release, the offenders return to drug use and criminal behavior, get re-arrested, and are sent back to prison for lengthy sentences. The Administration recognizes that addiction is a disease, and that treatment and long-term recovery require public health and public safety interventions.