IDTS (Prisons)
Criminal Justice – treatment for offenders – an overview
Offenders who misuse drugs commit more offences than those who do not. There is a strong link between drug misuse and crimes such as shoplifting, burglary, vehicle crime and theft. Heroin, crack and cocaine misusers are responsible for 50% of these crimes, and around three-quarters of crack and heroin users claim to be committing crime to feed their habit (Updated Drugs Strategy, Home Office 2002)
It is therefore important for the individual, their families and victims that their drug misuse is tackled. For many offenders, getting arrested is the trigger point for them to recognise and begin to tackle their drug misuse.
How treatment for offenders benefits communities
There are four main benefits to the community of providing treatment to offenders at an early stage:
- Their offending rates are likely to drop, thereby protecting their potential victims
- It focuses on a group who traditionally do not access treatment and thus provides them with an opportunity to engage with the system
- Treatment is likely to be more effective and efficient at an early stage before their drug using becomes entrenched, therefore speeding up their passage through the care system and freeing up services for others
- Early treatment reduces the spread of blood borne diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV
Related information;
- Prison drug treatment strategy review group www.pdtsrg.co.uk
- Home Office Tackling Drugs Changing Lives http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk
What are Integrated Drug Treatment Services (IDTS)?
The objective of IDTS is to expand the quantity and quality of drug treatment within HM Prisons by;
- Increasing the range of treatment options available to those in prison, notably substitute prescribing
- Integrated clinical and psychological treatment in prison into one system that works to the standards of Models of Care and the Treatment Effectiveness Strategy and works to one care plan
- Integrating prison and community treatment to prevent damaging interruptions either on reception into custody or on release back home
Why do we need IDTS in prisons?
- Reduce and prevent drug related deaths
- Improve quality of life for offenders
- Stop self harming
- Improve relationships with family and friends
- Improve clinical standards around substance misuse in prisons and on release
- It focuses on a group who traditionally do not access treatment and thereby provides an opportunity to engage them in the system
- Treatment is likely to be more effective and efficient at an early stage before their drug problem becomes entrenched, therefore speeding their passage through the care system and freeing up services for others
- Early treatment reduces the spread of blood borne diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV
The key objectives of IDTS
- increase the number of Problem Drug Users (PDUs) in the prison establishment who are in receipt of treatment consistent with best practice
- provide treatment and advice aimed at maintaining problematic drug users in treatment on release
- reduce the level of re-offending by PDUs
- reduce drug-related deaths and harm, both in custody and after release
- reduce the supply of illicit drugs in prisons
- work with the Drug Interventions Programme/ Criminal Justice Intervention Teams in the community and with community drug treatment providers to improve overall the continuity and consistency of care for drug users, both on their entry and on their release from custody
How will IDTS look?
How IDTS links offender, family and community
Actions to be taken on prisoner release
- Ensure released prisoners have a prescription, if required at a community drug team of their choice.
- Ensure that there is communication between all services involved with the prisoner upon release.
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Ensure that released prisoners have a service to return to
Current IDTS initiatives underway across Lancashire
HMP Preston
- Intuitive Recovery™, an organisation specialising in addiction education and psychosocial interventions which result in abstinence has been commissioned to carry out work with prisoners to focus on developing the skills needed to counter addiction.
- Play worker:-To promote a positive visiting experience through the use of play for children visiting a family member who is serving a custodial sentence.
- Safe storage of medication:- Every client who requests it is to receive, upon leaving prison, a safe storage box for their medication
- Acupuncture: - A training programme is being introduced to up-skill the CARAT’s team and some prison officers in the art of acupuncture. The service will be offered to prisoners to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and to their visitors as a means of stress relief. It is hoped prisoners be encouraged to access similar treatments on release and that their families would be similarly encouraged to support their desire to change.
- Issuing of Naloxone to each IDTS prisoner who leaves prison. Training for key members of prison staff has also been secured and this will then support a “train the trainer’s” event throughout the rest of the establishment.
- A communications strategy document will be issued directly to all prisoners and families of prisoners to keep them informed of the facilities available within the Prison estate. This document will also include detail of the various therapies and interventions available in prison. The essential information and content to be included is being developed with the help of family forums organized by the POP’s organisation.
HMP Wymott
- Intuitive Recovery™, an organisation specialising in addiction education and psychosocial interventions which result in abstinence has been commissioned to carry out work with prisoners to focus on developing the skills needed to counter addiction.
- Safe storage of medication:- Every client who requests it is to receive, upon leaving prison, a safe storage box for their medication
- Issue of Naloxone to each IDTS prisoner who leaves prison. Training for key members of prison staff has also been secured this will then support a train the trainer’s event through out the rest of the establishment
- A communications strategy document will be issued directly to all prisoners and families of prisoners to keep them informed of the facilities available within the Prison estate. This document will also include detail of the various therapies and interventions available in prison. The essential information and content to be included is being developed with the help of family forums organized by the POP’s organization.
HMP Lancaster Castle
- Intuitive Recovery™, an organisation specialising in addiction education and psychosocial interventions which result in abstinence has been commissioned to carry out work with prisoners to focus on developing the skills needed to counter addiction.
- Safe storage of medication:- Every client who requests it is to receive, upon leaving prison, a safe storage box for their medication
- A communications strategy document will be issued directly to all prisoners and families of prisoners to keep them informed of the facilities available within the Prison estate. This document will also include detail of the various therapies and interventions available in prison. The essential information and content to be included is being developed with the help of family forums organized by the POP’s organization.
- Intuitive Recovery™, an organisation specialising in addiction education and psychosocial interventions which result in abstinence has been commissioned to carry out work with prisoners to focus on developing the skills needed to counter addiction.
- Safe storage of medication:- Every client who requests it is to receive, upon leaving prison, a safe storage box for their medication
- A communications strategy document will be issued directly to all prisoners and families of prisoners to keep them informed of the facilities available within the Prison estate. This document will also include detail of the various therapies and interventions available in prison. The essential information and content to be included is being developed with the help of family forums organized by the POP’s organization.
HMP Garth
- A communications strategy document will be issued directly to all prisoners and families of prisoners to keep them informed of the facilities available within the Prison estate. This document will also include detail of the various therapies and interventions available in prison. The essential information and content to be included is being developed with the help of family forums organized by the POP’s organization.
Progress of IDTS Program Lancashire prisons
- HMP Kirkham has gone live as of week commencing October 12th 2009 and to date have 6 prisoners in receipt of the IDTS Program
- HMP Wymott has a total of 58 prisoners in receipt of the IDTS Program
- HMP Preston has a total of 145 prisoners in receipt of the IDTS Program
- HMPLancaster Castle is to go live the first week in November 2009
- HMP Garth is due to go live the second week in November 2009
- Lancaster YOI is due to go live March 2010.
Related Documents
Adult Needs Assessment
The LDAAT Needs Assessment document represents an ongoing process of evaluation of the substance misuse related need in the County.
