Breaking the Cycle Demonstration Project

PROJECT SUMMARY FOR 98-IJ-CX-K013 (S-1)

This award is for a supplement to an on-going Breaking the Cycle project that was begun in October 1998.

Breaking the Cycle is a system-wide intervention strategy designed to identify, supervise, and treat all drug using defendants. Its hypothesis is that reduced durgs use in a defendant population will result in a decline in criminal behavior, an improvement in that population's social functioning, and more effective use of criminal justice resources, particularly detention capacity. The principle components are:

- drug testing of all defendants as soon as possible after arrest;
- placement of call drug using defendants in appropriate treatment or monitoring;
- active monitoring of compliance to drug-related conditions imposed by courts; and
- imposition of appropriate graduated sanctions or incentive to influence defendant behavior.

This supplemental funding, provided by a Congressional earmark, will allow the project to continue for and additional twelve months and support efforts to sustain the program after the end of funding.