BJA FY 10 Family-Based Prisoner Substance Abuse Treatment

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The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail and returning to communities, including resources to address the myriad needs of these offenders to achieve a successful return to their communities. Section 113 specifically addresses the treatment needs of offenders who have substance abuse disorders and who are parents of minors. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reported that in 2004, 53 percent of state inmates were abusing or dependent on drugs in the year before their admission to prison, and 32 percent of state inmates said they had committed their current offense while under the influence of drugs. In 2007, parents held in the state prisons—52 percent of state inmates—reported having an estimated 1.7 million children under the age of 18, an increase of 80 percent from 2001. Since 1991, the number of children with a mother in prison has more than doubled, up 131 percent, and the number of children with a father in prison has grown by 77 percent. Among state prisoners, 59 percent of males and 63 percent of females being held for drug-related offenses were parents. Sections 113 of the Second Chance Act authorizes grants to states, units of local government, and Indian tribes to improve the provision of substance abuse treatment within prison and jails and after reentry for inmates who have minor children and also includes outreach to families and provision of treatment and other services to children and other family members of participant inmates. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications from eligible applicants to plan, implement, or expand such treatment programs.

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