Criminal Justice and Drug Treatment Systems Linkage: Federal Promotion of Interagency Collaboration in the 1970s

Formal and informal linkages are needed to ensure adequate funding, agreed upon objectives, service coordination, consistent policies regarding treatment and sanctions, and long-term program viability. Strategies have been developed and publicized by the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration to deal with specific aspects of program linkages and to sponsor training and technical assistance programs. These strategies have fostered attitudes and actions that enable criminal justice and drug treatment administrators, providers, policymakers, and staff to establish networks and cooperative programs to provide treatment to offenders while maintaining security and public safety. The Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) program is described as a model of linkage. Specific efforts of the National Institute on Drug Abuse to promote collaboration are described, and the Oregon Mental Health Program in Corrections is cited as an example of linkage. 42 references and 12 notes