subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Sun, Jul 05 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   




Zillow
monster
autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

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

ACCEPTING LPN RESUMES FOR POTENTIAL OPENING.
Mail to Women & Children's Clinic. 1411 N. Race St., Glasgow, KY 42141. No phone calls please....>MORE

Attn: Drivers. NOW HIRING!!! National Distributors Leasing
Regional & OTR Drop & Hook Operation. Great Equipment. Don't Delay. Call recruiting today! 877-334-9677. www.driver4ndl....>MORE

ASSISTANT MANAGERS - TAKE THE REGINS ON A MILLION
dollar operation as part of our management team. You'll get the support and training you need to succeed, plus the rewar...>MORE

EXPERIENCED LPN OR RN TO WORK IN DR. GERMAN'S
office all day on Tuesday & Friday mornings beginning in 2 weeks. Send resume to 211 Professional Park Dr., references r...>MORE

FOX'S PIZZA DEN NOW HIRING ALL POSITIONS
July 6th & 7th 10 am- 5pm
•Flexible scheduling
• Uniform provided
• Discounted meals
936 Happy Valle
...>MORE

$$$ AVON $$$
Reps need in your area! $10.00 no inventory no sales quota. Couple/Retirees/Online. Call Debbie at 270-646-4939....>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

95 NISSAN PICKUP 4 CYL., 5 SPD., 140K MI.
Serviced every 3k mi., bed topper, sharp truck. $3,400. 427-5686....>MORE

2005 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS
Below avg. mileage, loaded, $14,500 Call 629-2005 or 670-3694....>MORE

1998 OLDS 88, LOCAL ONE OWNER,
28,000 miles, V6, 3.8 liter motor, excellent condition. 270-646-7646.

...>MORE

97 BONNEVILLE, ALL POWER, NEW TIRES,
radio, cassette player, A1 condition, asking $1500. 651-8525 or 404-6144.

...>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

202 FORD F150 - 18K PRICED RIGHT.
CALL 270-678-5546....>MORE

2005 BUICK CENTURY
168,000 miles, Good condition, $4,000.00. Call 270-678-7362....>MORE

See all ads

Premium Homes

3 BR HOUSE IN PARK CITY
appliance include W/D, Ref. required. $425 mo + $425 Dep. 563-4029 after 6 pm....>MORE

3 BR, 2 BA HOUSE, MASTER SUITE, GARAGE,
106 Floral Dr. $700 mo. Call 646-7143....>MORE

HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY 16 ACRES
3 BR, 2 full BA. Call for details. $90,000.00 Contact: Mike or Shannon 270-427-4488 OR 270-427-0617....>MORE

UNFURNISHED 1 OR 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS.
Kitchen appliances & water furnished. 270-651-5340....>MORE

NICE 3 BDRM. DUXPLEX, VAULTED CEILINGS, C/A, D/W.
in country, service animals only. 1 yr. lease. References req. $495/mo., $99/dep. 678-3039....>MORE

DUPLEX 1 BR 1 BA
utility rm, W/D hook-up C/H/A, conveniently located downtown. $350 mo. + $350 dep. 651-6336, after 6 pm....>MORE

2 BR APARTMENTS, NEWLY REMODELED,
C/H/A, all appliances, 1 yr. lease. 211 E. Main St. 270-670-9677.

...>MORE

HOUSE IN GLASGOW 2-3 BR, 1 BA
Covered back porch, storage, Ref. & Dep. 270-432-2162....>MORE

1 MONTH FREE RENT WITH 1 YEAR LEASE. 2 & 3 BR
mobile homes. Call 590-0779 or 590-0775....>MORE

BRICK HOME, 4 BDRM., 2 BATH,
finished basement, 2 car garage, hardwood floors & custom tile, granite countertops. $135,900. Call 270-646-8499....>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