The criminal justice secure in-jail 
substance abuse treatment program

The secure in-jail substance dependency treatment program provided within the three Duval County jail facilities for both pre-trial and sentenced inmates by River Region Human Services consists of THREE (3) separate but inter-active and related components.

1. Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Services A group of professional educators provide a series of classes within the Duval County Jail and Prisons Division for incarcerated adults. These presentations cover a broad range of topics that are related to substance abuse, dependency, and treatment.

These professional trainers also screen potential candidates for admission to the Secure Drug Treatment Program/Therapeutic Community. Screening is required for admission to the Therapeutic Community (TC) in order to determine if applicants are qualified for admission.

2. Secure Drug Treatment: a Therapeutic Community (TC) The Secure Drug Treatment Program/Therapeutic Community is an adult drug dependency treatment program housed within the Community Corrections Division (CCD) at 451 Catherine Street. The program is a correctional facility-based Therapeutic Community (TC). Individuals admitted to the TC receive a minimum of 120 days of residential substance dependency treatment from a team of professional counselors. The program has a current capacity of treating 108 incarcerated men and women at any one time not including those individuals who have progress into the RE-ENTRY phase of being in Work-Release or Trustee status. Admission criteria for the program include:

         Adults sentenced to county incarceration

         Diagnosis of Substance Dependence rather than Substance Abuse

         Sufficient sentence to complete the program

         No extensive history of violent behavior and not considered a security or escape risk

         No active detainer(s)

         No need for on-going medical management or nursing services

Admission to the TC may be initiated by self-referral or by a referral from: a Judge; a representative of the State Attorneys Office or Public Defenders Office; a private attorney; TASC; Probation and Parole Services, JSO officers or employees; family; friends; or any other appropriate source. A comprehensive and individualized treatment plan is developed with each individual. Critical core service components of the program include: Addiction Education and Relapse; Criminal Thinking; Motivational Readiness; Job Readiness; Twelve-Step Education and Activities; Domestic Violence; Dual Diagnosis Services; etc. Specialized family, gender, and spiritual groups are also provided. Additionally support services for the children of program participants are also available.

3. Aftercare Case Management Services RRHS employs a team of professional Corrections Case Managers to work with individuals who complete the in-jail secure substance abuse treatment program (TC). Available aftercare services include transitional housing, assistance in obtaining employment, and transportation. Personal care items and clothing are also provided once the graduate begins participating in aftercare services. Aftercare continues for 12 months following completion of residential treatment in the TC.

A comprehensive aftercare plan is developed with each program participant soon after he or she enters the modified therapeutic community. This individualized plan guides the re-entry process. Regular meetings with the assigned case manager continue throughout treatment and aftercare and the case manager is available to provide transportation, clothing, housing, or any services that are needed immediately upon release from incarceration.

12-Step work continues throughout the one-year case-managed aftercare period, and participation in weekly group meetings is also required along with mandatory weekly support group attendance. Clients who complete aftercare are recognized and honored at a special commencement event held in their honor.