A Road Not Taken: substance abuse programming in the New York City jail system

Substance abuse represents one of the most common diagnoses in jail settings and features prominently in the path into criminal justice involvement. In addition, substance abuse plays a major role in mortality, morbidity, and recidivism after release from jail. In 2008, a substance abuse treatment program was begun within the New York City jail system, the nation's second largest. This program, A Road Not Taken (ARNT), works collaboratively with courts, security officials within the jail, and community programs to identify inmates who have substance abuse concerns and provide in-jail programming and coordination of treatment after jail. An evaluation of ARNT participants revealed that they experienced a lower rate in incarceration after their program participation than they did before participation.