Alternatives to incarceration

Inmate substance use

Susan E. Foster, the Center's Director of Policy Research and Analysis, criticized state governments for failing to address an obvious challenge within and beyond the walls of correctional or carceral institutions. "States complain mightily about their rising prison costs, yet they continue to hemorrhage public funds that could be saved if they provided treatment to inmates with alcohol and other drug problems and stepped up use of drug courts and prosecutorial drug treatment alternative programs." Specifically, the report recommended more substance use programs as alternatives to incarceration; addiction programs for inmates; mental health treatment for inmates with co-occurring mental health problems; follow-up care for released inmates with drug and alcohol addictions.