subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Fri, Nov 27 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Published September 30, 2008 10:28 am - 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.

More substance abuse treatment available for inmates


By RONNIE ELLIS
CNHI News Service

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.



print this story    email this story   






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

DENTAL HYGIENIST POSITION,
part time and or as needed. Send resume to P.O. Box 1172, Tompkinsville, KY 42167.

...>MORE

COMPLETE STEEL FABRICATION IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
for: IRONWORKER *2-4 years experience required FABRICATOR *2-4 years experience required We offer: great retirement prog...>MORE

NOW HIRING OWNER OPERATORS
Call 270-678-7379....>MORE

CAREER MINDED INDIVIDUALS SEARCHING FOR A HOME
We offer HOME ON WEEKENDS!!
2500 miles per week
100% no touch freight
No force dispatch to NYC. Safety &
...>MORE

MANAGEMENT (KEYHOLDER) POSITION WITH LOCAL
shoe store. Exciting career opportunity. Retail experience preferred. Competitive benefit package. Apply at SHOE SHOW, 2...>MORE

ADULT THERAPIST
LifeSkills has a full-time Adult Therapist position available for our service center in Metcalfe County. The position is...>MORE

EXPERIENCED DENTAL ASSISTANT NEEDED
to work 2-3 days a week in a busy dental office, emphasizing in oral surgery. Pay commensurate on experience & backgroun...>MORE

ELECTRICIAN WANTED. KY LICENSE PREFERRED.
OSHA 10 hr. 10+ years exp., commercial, EOE, Drug free workplace. Job is located in Glasgow, KY. Interested applicants c...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

2002 HONDA TRIKE GL-1800
40k miles. Asking $27,000. For more info call 270-404-2959.

...>MORE

LOOKING FOR A GREAT AUTO DEAL?.....
Looking to buy or sell?
Check here for the Premium Auto Section.
You can post an ad with unlimited text and
...>MORE

93 CHEVROLET CONVERSION VAN,
123,000+ miles., new tires, runs & looks great. Must see. $1795 O.B.O. 453-3726 or 670-8131.

...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

2 BR, 1 BA MOBILE HOME IN THE COUNTRY.
$395 mo., $100 dep. References required, service animals only. Call 270-678-3039.

...>MORE

2010 FLEETWOOD 24X46, 3 BR, 2 BA, APPLIANCES,
air, thermo windows. Delivered, setup & skirting, all for only $43,300. Goffs' Homes. 270-789-4092.

...>MORE

1 BR, 1 BA DUPLEX, $410 MO.
includes new stove & refrig., utilities included. $200 deposit. Call 270-404-0204.

...>MORE

HAYWOOD AREA: 4 BR, 3 1/2 BA HOUSE,
dining room, kitchen, study, den, 2 car garage on 2.5 acres. Lots of extras, all for $900 mo. + dep. 270-729-0421, home ...>MORE

3 BR, 2 BA, MOBILE HOME, CENTRAL H/A,
all electric, 14'x70', $350 mo. + $75 dep. to move in. Sewer & garbage furnished. Call for details. 590-0775 or 590-0779...>MORE

3 BR, 2 BA DUPLEX,
dishwasher, fridge, stove, basement, garage, $650 mo. + $650 deposit. 1 yr. lease. 270-576-6363.

...>MORE

LOCAL BUSINESS SEEKING FULL-TIME BOOKKEEPER.
Minimum 2 years experience. QuickBooks knowledge required. Benefits available. Please send resume to Box DR, c/o The Gla...>MORE

RELOCATING - MUST SELL HOUSE!!! 316 BAYLES RD.
Call for appointment. 270-678-7518....>MORE

1995 CLAYTON 16X80, 2 BR, 2 BA HOME
delivered, skirting & air for only $18,500. Goffs' Homes. 270-789-4092.

...>MORE

2010 FLEETWOOD 14X60, 2 BR, 1 BA, APPLIANCES, AIR.
Delivered, set up, skirting. List price $26,300, Sale price $24,900. Goffs' Homes. 270-789-4092.

...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index