MISSOURI TAKES STEPS TO HELP DRUG ABUSERS

As a member of the Children's Services Commission Task Force on
Children of Incarcerated Parents, I read with interest the May 24
editorial, "Punishing the children."

Barbara Baker illustrates the opportunities and the obstacles Missouri
faces as corrections officials develop programs to promote three R's -
more relapse prevention, fewer revocations and less recidivism.

Baker's first conviction occurred in 1971. Since then, she has been
convicted of eight additional felony offenses and two misdemeanor
crimes. She didtime in the city and county system on three occasions.
She was placed on probation once and was sentenced to the Department
of Corrections three times; on two of those occasions she was paroled
and returned to prison. In 1993, having earned her GED and
successfully participated in a substance abuse program at the
Chillicothe Correctional Center, the Parole Board recommended her for
release on parole effective on March 14, 1996.

Today, Baker is sober and successful on parole; she continues relapse
prevention programming.

Baker has changed over time. So has the Department of Corrections.
Here are some of the changes:

*Prior to 1993, only 562 short-term institutional substance-abuse
treatment beds were available at three institutions for men. No
long-term drug programs were available in the department for men or
women. Moreover, needs assessments and drug education programs were
not available for any general population inmate.

Today, there are 2,837 institutional treatment beds providing short-
and long-term treatment to both men and women in prison at 10
facilities across the state. Another 735 offenders are enrolled right
now in drug education courses.

*The Department of Corrections, in partnership with 20 communities
including St. Louis city and county, has developed drug courts, day
report centers and other substance-abuse treatment and
shock-incarceration initiatives to target drug-involved offenders at
risk for revocation and recidivism.

*The department has also worked with the General Assembly to craft
enabling legislation. As examples, in 1994 Senate Bill 763 enacted
both short- and long-term shock programs for acutely afflicted and
chronically addicted non-violent offenders.

In 1995, House Bill 424 was passed. As a result, all general
population offenders are now required to pursue school, work and
substance-abuse treatment on a full-time basis throughout their
confinement.

In 1998, House Bill 1147 established the Required Educational
Assessment and Community Treatment program (REACT). Now, all felony
drug offenders on probation complete a substance-abuse assessment and,
as necessary, drug education or treatment in the community as a
condition of probation. In 1999, House Bill 355 expanded REACT to
include all alcohol related offenses as well.

Since 1993, the availability of treatment and the press for sobriety
has made a measurable difference. The number of offenders returning to
the Department of Corrections with a new felony offense has dropped to
21 percent from 34 percent.

Sobriety is a partnership. Offenders must receive sentences that
reflect both their risk to the community and their need for treatment.
The department must have adequate resources, and we will consider a
family drug court.

And offenders must use these opportunities well. Ultimately, their
recovery rests with them. It is for their welfare and that of their
children that they struggle to achieve and maintain sobriety and good
citizenship.