The rhode island department of corrections (DOC) will continue support of a residential substance abuse program for adult male offenders incarcerated at medium security

The Rhode Island Department of Public Safety will receive $176,975 through September 2026 under a Formula Grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance. The funding supports the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners program, which aims to increase access to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment and reduce overdose deaths.

Specifically, the award will continue supporting a residential substance abuse program for adult male offenders incarcerated at a medium security facility in North Scituate, Rhode Island. The program offers intensive substance abuse treatment and recovery case management services to up to 100 offenders at a time through four phases: initial four to six-month treatment, followed by six months of recovery and discharge planning for reintegration into the community. Treatment services are provided by The Providence Center under an RFP contract. All offenders are assessed and individual treatment plans developed and implemented, with medication-assisted treatment also provided.

The program offers a four and six-month treatment phase followed by a six-month recovery phase that can accommodate up to 100 offenders at a time. The goals of the program are to provide intensive substance abuse treatment and recovery case management services to include discharge planning for those offenders who will be prepared for RE-integration into the community. Drug treatment services are provided through the RFP selected vendor, the providence center (TPC). All offenders referred to program are assessed for history of substance abuse and prior treatment/recovery experiences. Individual treatment plans are developed and implemented. Offenders are tested for drugs of abuse as an integral part of the treatment program according to established department protocols. Transitional planning begins immediately upon assignment to the unit, which includes a written plan to deal with offender transitional issues including plans for housing, finance, family reunification, and community substance abuse treatment/recovery services following discharge from prison. This discharge plan is developed with treatment staff as well as the division of probation and parole. Medication assisted treatment (mat) services are provided to all offenders in every facility who are screened and assessed as appropriate. These services are provided to participants of this program as well.