Establish a Recidivism Prevention Infrastructure
Currently, thousands of individuals who suffer from drug addiction and/or mental illness are in Texas prisons. Meanwhile, Texas has an inadequate number of substance abuse treatment providers, both in and out of prison walls, to deal with their addictions and related crime.
In order to enhance public safety by decreasing drug‑use related crime, Texas must curb drug abuse and drug dependence. Every crime reduction strategy should include a solid drug treatment plan in order to break the cycle of drug use, addiction, and crime as early as possible. Specifically, non‑violent drug users entering the criminal justice system should be guaranteed access to effective, professionally supervised treatment and rehabilitation programs, as well as programs designed to enhance employability and personal responsibility (like education programs). Furthermore, in-prison treatment must be coupled with community-based aftercare to best ensure program and personal success.[i] Even the most expensive treatment program is less expensive – and far more effective – than the costs of building and maintaining three additional prisons which would only manage (not reduce) risk.
[i] “Substance Abuse Treatment Policy Statement 12: Provide effective substance abuse treamtenn to anyone in prison or jail who is chemically dependant.” Re-entry Policy. 2005.