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Program E: Blue Walters

Program Authorization: R.S. 15:821-840.2 and R.S. 36:401-409

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Blue Walters Program is to provide a substance abuse program for selected inmates who are either completing their sentences or being released early on parole, good time, or to work release programs.

The goal of the Blue Walters Program is to reduce recidivism through a structured program of substance abuse intervention, education, and rehabilitation.

The Blue Walters Substance Abuse Program (BWP), which is based on a 60-day cycle treatment program and housed in a 140-bed treatment facility (physically located on the campus of East Louisiana State Hospital in Jackson), has been in operation since March 1991. While in treatment, inmates undergo an intense program that includes didactic lectures, audios and videos covering all aspects of the disease addiction, the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), small group therapy, individual counseling, specialized groups covering relapse prevention, stress management/relaxation therapy, assertiveness training, conflict resolution, improving self-esteem, life management skills, adult education, supervised recreation therapy, and nightly attendance at AA or NA meetings. Upon discharge, all individuals are referred to state substance abuse clinics in their communities for aftercare services.

A recent evaluation study comparing the recidivism rates of offenders released from the Blue Walters Program with offenders released from the general prison population without having gone through the Blue Walters Program, found that the BWP treatment group had a recidivism rate over 4% lower than the control or non-BWP group.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. In FY 1998-99, the Blue Walters Program will deliver a viable treatment regimen that will reduce the recidivism rates for those offenders who successfully complete the program, enabling them to remain in the community free of any legal and/or parole violations and modifying their substance abuse behavior.

Input Indicator: Approximately 75% of all adult offenders committed to state custody have some level of substance abuse history, and recent statistics indicate that the number of commitments for drug-related offenses continues to grow.

BLUE WALTERS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PRE-RELEASE PROGRAM

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR

1991-92

1992-93

1993-94

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

Total number of entries

886

915

946

1,128

1,100

1,097

Number of successful completions

793

792

766

921

935

936

Number of reentries into adult correctional system:

 

 

 

 

 

     Work Release Violators

60

43

48

19

15

18

     Probation, Parole or Good Time Revoked1

67

52

100

79

113

109

     Arrested - Not Yet Revoked

38

26

20

6

17

9

     Absconded Supervision

17

30

33

34

31

25

     Total Number of Reentries

182

151

201

138

176

161

1 Probation revocations were not reported prior to FY1993-94.

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded entirely with state general fund.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL FUND

TOTAL

T.O.

 

DESCRIPTION

 

 

 

 

 

$1,083,459

$1,083,459

22

 

ACT 18 FISCAL YEAR 1997-1998

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BA-7 TRANSACTIONS:

$0

$0

0

 

None

 

 

 

 

 

$1,083,459

$1,083,459

22

 

EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET - December 10, 1997

 

 

 

 

 

$12,448

$12,448

0

 

Annualization of 1997 -'98 Merit Pay Adjustment(s)

$11,604

$11,604

0

 

1998 -'99 Merit Pay Adjustment(s)

$20,824

$20,824

0

 

Attrition Adjustment(s)

($3,321)

($3,321)

0

 

Retirement Rate Adjustment(s)

($25,000)

($25,000)

0

 

Reductions in various Expenditure Categories; Including Reduction to fully fund Salaries

$2,700

$2,700

0

 

Adjust interagency transfers to East Louisiana State Hospital for the reimbursement of utility, telephone, fire protection and other operating expenses for the Blue Walters Substance Abuse Program

 

 

 

 

 

          $1,102,714

     $1,102,714

      22

 

TOTAL RECOMMENDED

 

 

 

 

 

$19,255

$19,255

0

 

DIFFERENCE (TOTAL RECOMMENDED AND EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET)

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 101.8% of the existing operating budget. It represents 44.4% of the total request ($2,481,549) for this program. The increase in the recommended level is primarily attributed to the adjustment for an anticipated attrition factor of 2.0%.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

This program does not have funding for Professional Services for Fiscal Year 1998-1999.

OTHER CHARGES

 

 

Interagency Transfers:

$214,450

 

Reimbursement of utility costs to East Louisiana State Hospital

 

 

 

$214,450

 

TOTAL INTERAGENCY TRANSFERS

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

This program does not have funding for Acquisitions and Major Repairs for Fiscal Year 1998-1999.

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