Treatment Helps Reduce Calif. Prison PopulationJuly 7, 2000
Research Summary
It appears that efforts to reduce the recidivism rate through substance abuse treatment is working, as California's prison population showed its first year-to-year decline since 1977, Reuters reported July 3."More than a decade ago, nearly 70 out of every 100 offenders on parole returned to prison. Today, approximately 55 out of every 100 offenders on parole return to prison," said C.A. Terhune, director of the California Department of Corrections.
Terhune credited the decline on improved programs aimed at preventing paroled prisoners from heading back to jail. Among the efforts are substance-abuse treatment, employment preparation and placement, and computer literacy training for parolees.
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