The purpose of the criminal justice system is to focus on prevention, treatment options, and reducing repeat offenses. Drug and substance abuse offenses are one of the most important area in terms of the importance of treatment in reducing repeat offenses. Unless the addiction is treated and the offender receives the help that they need for any related issues, such as mental illness, they will be likely to become a repeat offender. An offender can be recommended for substance abuse treatment through either a residential or community-based program. This research will explore the merits and effectiveness of both of these programs.
The focus of community based programs is typically prevention, while residential programs focus on treatment (Office of Justice Programs, 2014). Adults in the Making (AIM) is a community based program that targets youth aged 16-18 in rural, black communities. This population was chosen because this group is at particular risk for developing substance abuse issues and becoming involved in the criminal justice system. The program focuses on enhancing the family supports and protective factors that help youth to avoid the development of substance abuse problems. The program involves enhancing the youth’s ability to self-regulate through the development of supportive, positive family relationships. It is a brief therapy that involves six weekly meetings in a group setting. A long-term analysis of the program found that the program was most effective on youth with the greatest risk factors (Brody, Yu, & Kogan et al., 2012).
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"Characteristics of Effective Treatment".
The residential program chosen us the Motivational Interviewing for Substance Abuse program. This program is typically administered in a correctional or residential setting, but can be administered in a community setting. The targeted population is both male and female drug offenders (Office of Justice Programs, 2014). The treatment method targets individuals who are less motivated to make change in regards to their problem behaviors. The selected target group for this treatment involves those who may be angry, oppositional, or ambivalent to change (Office of Justice Programs, 2014). This is a brief intervention that involves individual counseling sessions. The purpose of the treatment is to develop the person’s self-efficacy in their ability to manage their own behavior. In a meta-analysis, motivational interviewing yielded moderate positive results when compared to other treatments and no treatment (Burke, Arkowitz, & Mendnola, 2003).
Both the AIM and Motivational Interviewing Treatment Programs focused on building the youth’s resistance to substance abuse. These programs were found to be effective in achieving their intended goals. AIM focused on building protective factors through strengthening the youth’s support system. The Motivational Interviewing program focused on building the youth’s internal self-efficacy and desire to change their behavior. It focused on eliminating internal mental health factors that placed the youth at greater risk for repeat offenses. The community based and residential programs examined worked on the principle that the key to substance abuse, whether a first time or repeat offender, depends on strengthening the ability of the youth to resist the temptation.
These programs demonstrate two approaches, both of which are supported by evidence. One approach focuses on the support network and improving the external environment so that it is more supportive in building the youth’s resistance to substance abuse. The other focuses on building internal processes in those who have already committed a substance related offense. These programs demonstrate the principle that effective substance abuse programs need to focus on building the internal strengths of the youth, rather than simply punishment and negative reinforcement as a means to promote behavioral change. However, both internal and external resources can be used to achieve this internal strength.
