i was a dui wating to happen finally was caught in colorado went through a unique, strict no tolerance day reporting system. i haven't been in trouble for seven years..as i attended rehab classes which definitly aa..i was also able to attain a BA degree. Thank the creator i had counselors and sheriffs who supported me as relapse is so common amongst this group no matter the sob story..rehab is for quiters and i am proud of that. i learned to tell it like it is and stop being the grieving individual. i also found some have to have a structered or institutionalized approach but as for me, just as the spirits in the bottle enabled me to make poor decisions, i also found that becoming educated help me to break out of the system of violence, poverty and letting others make my choices for me. as hard as it was i needed to pay the ferryman to allow me to continue my journey and give back to the community. to these workers and participants i say i am with you, both in deed and spirit.i am able to help others, matters not what backgrond as i apply it-life!

Having worked at the prison I can say for many of the drug users, the best part of their life is actually in prison, at least when they are medium or minim security. There is help available for those that really want it, but as the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." There are those that really want to be clean, and will do what it takes. There are others who have good intentions and would like to be clean, but they still believe that they can "game" the system now and then, and before they know it they are back in prison. Then there are those that learned nothing during their time.

Many spend their whole time looking forward to their release and going back to old friends and ways. In prison you are not allowed tobacco in any form. It may not seem like a big thing, since it is legal on the outside, but it is like any other drug, and the biggest thing for those that use it, is to light up as soon as they are out. Meth and other drugs have the same affect.

I wish there were a program like DORA over here in Colorado,once again here, most of the inmates have drug/alcohol issues,our son has spent most of the last 10 years in DOC,he`s fine for a few weeks,but all it takes is that first beer...he`s on his way,he`s non-violent,but steals to support his drug habit,and honestly we`re not sure he want`s to stay clean,he sure hasn`t proven it,it`s a shame because he used to help me at my motorcycle shop and he was a good worker/person...without the drugs,please pray for him

Do the numbers: a 300-bed facility will be a start but won't have the significant impact upon recidivism according to the high number of people on parole. I think a more cost-effective way of managing parolees is to have them involved in private intensive-outpatient therapy and counseling; these therapists would work closely with AP&P officers.

The parolees would be working and living in their own residences. Under this scenario, only the most flagrant violators would then go to the 300-bed facility. The real goal is to keep them out of secure-housing facilities that are extremely expensive per-inmate to operate ($72 dollars/day). This addition of intensive-outpatient counseling and therapy component provides another layer of assistance for chronic drug-offenders. This added component will be the key to success--especially in so many rural Utah areas where parolees don't have access to the 300-bed facility.

Do the numbers: A 300-bed facility will not have a substantial impact on reducing prison costs. There is a missing component and layer of assistance that could be added almost immediately if AP&P were wise and flexible that would be cost effecitve. Intensive private outpatient therapy and counseling is the key--reduce the number of inmates INSIDE EXPENSIVE SECURE FACILITIES.

So how would an outside program work? AP&P officers are good at the security and social-services aspects of monitoring parolees. They need help in the core-clinical areas. Intensive-outpatient services could be found in a variety of towns and cities throughout Utah. Parolees would be routinely evaluated, attend several groups weekly, have individual encounters, and referrals to obtain medication.

If inmates could transition smoothly from the intensive-outpatient programs found within prison walls (Conquest--Draper, Hope--Gunnison), then this additional layer of support that involves clinicians on the outside of prison would be worth the investment. Again, almost any intervention that keeps parolees out of prison beds at $72 a day...I think Utah Department of Corrections could save money in an intensive-outpatient program where parolees continue to work their regular jobs, help pay for their own therapy--and sleep in their own beds at night!

Do the numbers: A 300-bed facility will not have a substantial impact on reducing prison costs. There is a missing component and layer of assistance that could be added almost immediately if AP&P were wise and flexible. Intensive private outpatient therapy and counseling is the key--reduce the number of inmates INSIDE EXPENSIVE SECURE FACILITIES.

So how does an outside program work?

AP&P officers are good at the security and social-services aspects of monitoring parolees. They keep doing what they�re doing. They need help in the core-clinical areas. Intensive-outpatient private services could be established in a variety of towns and cities throughout Utah. Parolees would be routinely evaluated, attend several groups weekly, have individual encounters, and referrals to obtain medication would be made.

Inmates would make a smooth transition from intensive-outpatient programs found within prison walls (Conquest--Draper, Hope--Gunnison); the additional layer of support that involves clinicians on the outside of prison would reduce recidivism and reduce prison costs NOW ($72/day per inmate). Again, almost any intervention that keeps parolees out of prison beds at $72 a day. Under the intensive-outpatient program parolees work their jobs, they help pay for their own therapy, and they sleep in their own beds!

Not all drug addicts come from bad backgrounds, but all of them need help that isn't available in many areas of the country--like AZ. No serious help unless you or your family can afford expensive programs and if your kid is over 18, your hands are tied. So you beg and plead and watch and pray--and sometimes you are helpless. You watch your son go to prison, and you pray and visit and pray some more. Wise probation officer told us "The few that make it off meth have families that love them, often will make changes because of their own children, but NOTHING works unless they have some sort of inner spiritual change." Our son has been out and clean for over two years now. He's paid off half of his $17,000 restitution and he and his wife bought a little fixer-upper house. His wife prayed and waited for him and she is a wonderful strength, but she has suffered, too. And we will always be scared.
Prisons need to be places to learn better ways, not just warehouses. If we don't stop this cycle now, we will lose a whole generation and their children, too.

I am basically a drug addict and I have never taken illegal drugs or spent time in Jail. Why? The doctors have done this to me. I have had surgery after surgery for my back, knee, hernia's. Now I have diabetic neuropathy with arthritis. So the doc thought that Vicodin would be the answer. Well after 5 years on the stuff, I got sick and tired of being on it. I tried to quit and got a blood clot to the lungs. So the Doc put me on a methadone treatment that I have been on for a year. It works for the pain, but I hate being on this also. It is more level to manage pain, but I wish I could get off of this stuff also.

In another item, I see that the Courts say that about 70 % of their time these days is with Traffic Court. Why are we wasting the time of Attorney's and Judges with traffic problems? Our founding fathers would just cringe at this.

We the article says "pay debt to society" man are you right. Debt meaning money this days. My daughter just went through paying 3,000 dollars for hers!

I have a son in jail in utah and he is due to be released in july >All of his letter say he will never go back and I know he wants to be able to succeed at that. Unfortunately I live in another state and he has only the people he was involved with to comunicate with once out. Not a good thing.
So I will take a leave from my job to come there and spend two months to help him get started and hopefully introduce him to some good influences.
I know the p and p have a very underappreciated job. Glad someone shows up to do it.

Thanks

A program for parolees to immediately join the workforce would be the best thing for all involved. My spouse violated his parole, lost his job and is now unemployed. He is losing his self esteem all over again. Yes he messed up. He was out for 2 years, straight and narrow, then met up with old friends and got in trouble again.
We are finding that no one wants to employ an ex convict. I understand that....Now why can't the parolees do something they know??? Work at Juvenile Detention Centers, help the next generation through their experience....I know if my husband could do that, he would work forever helping those so much like him. Just a thought....