Illinois receives federal grant to provide substance abuse treatment programs for adult and juvenile inmates

CHICAGO—Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) Executive Director Jack Cutrone announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice awarded Illinois a $694,370 federal Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant. The grant will fund residential, jail-based, and after¬care drug treatment programs in a correctional setting.

The RSAT program provides formula grants to correctional agencies to implement treatment programs for prison¬ers. Services are received by inmates housed in Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) facilities.

“Research shows that drug treatment in a prison setting, followed by aftercare upon release, can lower recidivism among offenders,” Executive Director Cutrone said. “We will continue to support programs that provide offenders with the skills they need to be successful as they re-enter the community.”  

The federal program requires provision of six to 12 months of treatment. In addition, offenders must receive treatment services in a residential setting away from the general inmate population. Programming must focus on the substance abuse problems of the inmate while developing inmates’ social, cognitive, behavioral, and vocational skills. Treatment is limited to of¬fenders who are nearing the end of their incarceration.

ICJIA is the state agency designated to administer RSAT funding in Illinois. Ten percent of the award will be designated through a request for proposals by ICJIA to one or more local agencies that can provide an evidence-based model treatment program.

The remaining funding will support the IDOC women’s dual diagnosis (substance abuse/mental health) program at Dwight Correctional Center. Also funded will be a substance abuse screening and assessment program at Illinois Youth Center-St. Charles, and substance abuse treatment programs at Illinois Youth Centers in Warrenville, Joliet, and Harrisburg.

To view and search programs supported by RSAT and other federal grants in Illinois, go to www.icjia.state.il.us/grants.

ICJIA is dedicated to improving the administration of criminal justice with work in the areas of grants administration, research and analysis, policy and planning, and information systems and technology. ICJIA is coordinating a collaborative, statewide strategic planning process that emphasizes evidence-based criminal justice practices to formulate policy, research, and funding direction for the next several years. Visit www.icjia.state.il.us for more information.