Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Bureau of Recovery Services

The Bureau of Recovery Services (BRS) works to instill in offenders an improved sense of responsibility and the ability to become law-abiding citizens through the provision of all core function services in the treatment for offenders in institution and community settings who are in need of substance abuse recovery programming. The bureau provides and works to expand and enhance substance abuse treatment approaches that build on state-of-the-art scientific and practical knowledge:

• to improve treatment outcomes for offenders
• to provide a seamless holistic approach to alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment

The treatment milieu includes screening and education for all reception inmates; various intensities and modalities of AOD programs at parent institutions; and continuing care that includes referrals to aftercare programming for offenders throughout their incarceration. And, upon release, referrals to community providers for offenders released without post-release control; and to Chemical Dependency Specialists (CDS) in the Adult Parole Authority for offenders with post-release control (e.g. parole, furlough).

The Adult Parole Authority’s CDS staff strive to reduce criminal activity by providing a continuum of quality care for the community supervised offenders before and after release by coordinating substance abuse treatment approaches among providers within DRC institutions, APA Field Offices, and community agencies.

Continuum Of Alcohol And Other Drug Services

The array of services offered at institutions begin with reception center AOD screening and education. Parent institutions offer structured programming that utilize different philosophical approaches and state-of-the-art practices including the Medical Model, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and other behavior change practices. The following is a brief overview:

• AOD Screening and Education: Offenders at reception institutions are screened for AOD use history with the Ohio Prison Inmate Inventory (PII) automated questionnaire and they must complete a minimum of eight hours of AOD education.
• Therapeutic Communities: TCs operated in DRC prisons are residential programs lasting between 6 to 12 months. The TC is designed to provide a 24-hour learning experience.
• Residential: DRC’s residential AOD programs incorporate a blend of confrontation and support lasting from 3 to 12 months in a highly structured environment.
• Day Treatment: Day treatment services are operated for a minimum of 25 contact hours per week for 2 to 5 months. Day treatment services include group counseling approaches to recovery.
• Outpatient and Intensified Outpatient: Outpatient services last from a few weeks to several months, have scheduled meetings of between 2 to 9 hours per week, include individual and group counseling and self-help activities.
• AOD Services for the Dual Diagnosed: The Bureaus of Mental Health Services and Recovery Services provide AOD services to offenders with co-occurring disorders. AOD services are determined through a holistic approach by a multi-disciplinary team.
• Peer Groups & Fellowship Meetings: AA, NA, and other self help, peer group and fellowship opportunities are offered at all institutions to assist offenders achieve or maintain abstinence.
• Drug Testing: Offender drug testing is a component of a comprehensive drug interdiction strategy. All institutions conduct drug testing services monthly and an annual saturation drug test takes place to determine a baseline of offender drug use. Every positive drug test is met with a sanction.
• Continuity Treatment Planning: A "Continuing Care Plan" is developed with offenders who participate in AOD services and are being transferred to another institution or being released.

Transition To The Community

Offenders being released from institutions to community supervision must receive appropriate AOD transition services in order to maintain continuity of care. To ensure the offender is appropriately linked with community aftercare, the institutional recovery services staff contact the CDS staff located in the APA region where the offender will be supervised. A total of eight CDS staff (one for each APA region) are located throughout the state.

The CDS reviews the offender’s file and determines an appropriate community referral. The appointment is secured prior to the offender’s release to avoid long waiting lists, prevent gaps in treatment services, and provide something to do and somewhere to go during those critical first few days following release. In addition to providing AOD transition services, CDS staff are also responsible for the following:

• assessing offender treatment needs
• increasing access to appropriate community programs
• conducting substance abuse education
• providing some direct treatment services
• crisis intervention

Programming must be coupled with alcohol and drug testing in order to effectively monitor and supervise offenders in the community. Each APA region is equipped with a drug testing laboratory and at least one technician. All positive results for alcohol or drugs are met with appropriate sanctions and programming options.