Part 3 of 3

SHOCK CAMP LIKELY FOR DRUG USER

Elise Neel, a young heroin addict who was the focus of a two-part Democrat and Chronicle series in July, could end up in the state prison system's "shock camp" program, which focuses heavily on curbing addiction.

Neel, 19, faces a Sept. 6 court date on two felony charges in Livingston
County. She is accused of attempting to smuggle heroin to a friend at the
Livingston County jail and of stealing checks from her mother, Patti Neel,
and forging signatures to get cash.

Livingston County Public Defender Marcea Clark said yesterday that Neel
likely will plead guilty to the two felonies -- each carrying a sentence of
one to three years.

In return, prosecutors plan to recommend that the state Department of
Correctional Services enroll Neel in its Shock Incarceration Program, often
called shock camp, Clark said.

Shock camp is a six-month incarceration with a heavy focus on treatment for
addicts. It includes strenuous physical training and is often likened to
military boot camp.

Only people who have been convicted of nonviolent crimes and have not
served state or federal prison time are eligible.

"I have very positive feelings about shock camp," said Livingston County
District Attorney Thomas Moran.

"Does that mean that it is the be-all and end-all? Of course not. There is
no be-all and end-all."

Moran's office can recommend that Neel be considered for shock camp, but he
said he could not discuss the case because there has yet to be a resolution.

But, Clark said, "It will be part of the plea bargain that she will be
shock-camp eligible."

Corrections officials ultimately decide whether to steer an inmate to shock
camp.

Shock camp graduates have a lower recidivism rate than other inmates, and
save the state millions in prison costs, corrections officials say.
Typically, a shock camp graduate is released almost a year before their
earliest possible release date had they been incarcerated in another state
prison.

For every 100 graduates, the state saves about $2.73 million, corrections
officials say.

Neel likely would be imprisoned at the Lakeview Shock Incarceration
Program, about 40 miles south of Buffalo in Chautauqua County. She is now
jailed at the Monroe County Jail on a probation violation.

The Democrat and Chronicle stories on Neel were part of the newspaper's
ongoing series about the Rochester region's battle with illegal drugs. The
stories highlighted Neel's experiences with drug use and treatment and the
impact of her addictions on her family.

(SIDEBAR)

Shock facts

The state's Shock Incarceration Program:

Is the largest of its kind in the country.

Includes a minimum of 675 hours of addiction treatment.

Has a lower rate of recidivism than other programs. For instance, 91
percent of shock camp graduates had not returned to jail after one year,
compared with 85 percent of inmates who were eligible for the program but
weren't imprisoned in shock camp.

Has higher rates of employment for its graduates. About 49 percent of shock
camp parolees are employed, vs. about 32 percent of inmates who were
eligible but weren't in shock camp.

Source: Department of Correctional Services