Jailed addicts rewarded with TV for going cold turkey
DRUG and alcohol addicted prisoners will get special rewards such as gym sessions and TVS if they go cold turkey to kick their habit in jail.
Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, is to create 100 units in jails where offenders agree to regular drug tests and are rewarded with extra gym time, in-cell TVS, additional family visits and cooking facilities if they stay clean.
The “incentivised substance-free living units” (ISFLS) are part of a £120 million plan to promote an approach to rehabilitation based on abstinence. It comes amid concerns that traditional methadone or other opiate treatments leave offenders “indefinitely” reliant on the drug.
Mr Raab believes too many prisoners are being put on methadone, a heroin substitute, to subdue them and stop them from causing harm to themselves, other inmates or prison officers, rather than trying to wean them off drugs.
It follows research for the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) by the Justice Data Lab which showed that 18 per cent of addicted women prisoners on abstinence programmes were likely to reoffend, compared with 29 per cent of those on other treatments.
As well as the 100 ISFL units, Mr Raab proposed to double the number of abstinence-led “drug recovery wings” in jails to 18. Addicts in the wings are supported to get clean from drugs, including substitutes like methadone, through abstinence. They will be helped by up to 50 specialists working with prisons.
The “abstinent” prisoners will then transition back through the incentivised units and into the general prison population, with continued support to stay drug-free. Mr Raab said: “Drugs trap criminals in a destructive cycle of offending and prevents them from getting their lives back on track.
“Our plan will get offenders into rehab earlier, get them off all drugs permanently and support prisoners once they’re released into the community. That will drive down reoffending, and make our streets safer.”
The Government estimates illegal drug use costs the taxpayer almost £22billion each year, including NHS treatment, dealing with addicted prisoners and police work on drug-related crime.
Around half of all prisoners have a drug problem, but MOJ research said those who get treatment are 19 percentage points less likely to reoffend.
The MOJ is also to set up three pilot “problem solving courts” (PSCS) where low-level criminals with drug or drink addictions will be spared prosecution if they agree to a tough rehabilitation regime.
Under orders issued by the PSCS, offenders will see the same judge at least once a month, have intense supervision from the Probation Service and get “wraparound” support such as substance misuse and recovery courses, housing support and educational services.