Pubdate: Fri, 1 Nov 2002
Source: High Point Enterprise (NC)
Copyright: 2002 High Point (N.C.) Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.hpe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/576
Author: Randall Cothran
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

DRUG PROGRAM HELPS INMATES

Drug-related crime is an ongoing problem in North Carolina. I feel 
education is one of the best ways we have in combating drug abuse. We had 
one of the best drug programs that was offered in North Carolina. This 
program was called DART (Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment). This 
program was set up in our prison system. Our legislators chose to close 
down this program in all but a few of our prison units. The few units that 
are left with a DART program are dropping fast.

At one time, DART had a six-month, three-month and a 24-hour program. It 
was mandatory for men and women serving drug-related sentences to enter and 
complete the DART program. The reports that the Department of Correction 
came out with this past year do not reflect the true recidivism rate of 
DART graduates. They were grouped together with other variables that did 
not show the success in this program that I have seen.

Think about this scenario. Your neighbor is getting out of prison after 
serving time for a drug-related crime. Would you want him or her to move 
back in next-door knowing that they had at least been exposed to some drug 
education, or to come out with the same attitude as going into prison?

I have experienced this program from two points of view. First, I am one of 
the many people the DART program helped. Second, I have had the pleasure of 
working with many men in the DART program and have seen many get out of 
prison to start leading law-abiding, productive lives.

I feel it is time we make our legislators put our money to work where it 
can do some good for the community in the long run. If we truly want to 
give offenders a second chance, let's put DART back in the prison system.

RANDALL COTHRAN
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