The department of the attorney general will subcontract with the department of public safety (PSD) to provide substance abuse (SA) specific reentry services for male and female offenders who are…

The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General's Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division received a $237,892 Formula Grant under the U.S. Department of Justice's Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program (CFDA 16.593). The grant funding will be used to provide substance abuse treatment and reentry services for male and female offenders who are eligible for release within 6-12 months. Specifically, the grant will sustain a 1.0 FTE Substance Abuse Counselor position for the men's Bridge program at the Laumaka Work Furlough Center, and potentially support 2.0 FTE Office Services Assistants and general operating costs for the Bridge program at both the men's and women's correctional facilities. The overall goal is to decrease recidivism and substance abuse relapse by offering participants evidence-based individual and group counseling, relapse prevention, job development, life skills, and family services. The program aims to serve approximately 158 inmates during the 4-year performance period from October 2023 to September 2027.

The department of the attorney general will subcontract with the department of public safety (PSD) to provide substance abuse (SA) specific reentry services for male and female offenders who are eligible for release within 6 to 12 months. Grant funds will supplement operational costs for psds bridge program; a SA, work-release and reentry program for males at laumaka work furlough center (LWFC), and for women at the womens community correction center (WCCC). Bridge provides inmates who have a history of drug and alcohol abuse the opportunity to continue their recovery in a structured SA treatment and work-release program. The project will serve as a transitional program for male and female offenders who have 1) graduated from one of the departments therapeutic program; 2) completed an intensive outpatient SA treatment program; or 3) completed an outpatient SA treatment program while incarcerated. Training and development of psds SA treatment services follow a statewide strategic plan. The plan aims to implement a system-wide, standardized assessment protocol to match offenders to appropriate levels of supervision and services by identifying level of service inventory-revised (LSI-R) risk factor severity to evidence-based practices in services. Programming will include individual and group counseling, relapse prevention, job development, life skills, family counseling and reunification, etc. The program also works with participants to address their criminogenic needs. The project goals are to decrease the rate of recidivism and to reduce the rate of relapse into drug or alcohol use. The projects objectives are as follows:90% of the participants will have negative urinalysis test results while in the program;85% of the participants will successfully complete the program within one year of placement;75% of participants will experience an increase in their overall post-test scores (from their pre-test score);75% of graduates will develop an aftercare or transition plan;75% of graduates will have a negative urinalysis test result during their first year on parole; AND75% of the program graduates will not be convicted of a new crime during the first year on parole. Funds will be used to sustain a 1.0 FTE SA counselor position for the mens program. If funding permits, funds will also help to sustain 2.0 FTE office services assistants, one for each program site and will be used to support general operating cost including but not limited to miscellaneous equipment, supplies/inmate education materials, and staff training. Approximately 158 inmates are anticipated to benefit from the help of grant funds.