Addressing the Drug Abuse in Parolees and Probationers

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Program Evaluation
Executive Summary
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The aim of the program is to address the drug abuse in parolees and probationers during their probations and decrease the use of drugs in them. The program considered the outcomes of the HOPE program but was implemented according to the local factors that influence drug use in Virginia Estates, Montgomery, AL.

Program Evaluation

To evaluate the program correctly, a sustainable measurement system needs to be developed. To measure the efficiency and effectiveness of a program, various methods can be used that include qualitative and quantitative data. For my program, I will mostly use qualitative data, as it will provide a deeper view of the problem and demonstrate how the participants of the program evaluate it. Interviews, observations, and case studies will be used to assess the program’s efficiency and effectiveness.

The stakeholders of the program (legislators, police officers, judges, probationers, parolees, the general population including parents, young adults, adults, senior citizens, health care providers, etc.) may have concerns about funding as well as public perception. The funding concerns can be expressed in doubts about the initial budget and if it is enough to cover the program. However, analysis of the budget and funding sources has shown that the program can be covered by both funding sources chosen for the program.

Concerns about public perception may be expressed by legislators who will not be sure if the program is able to present the expected outcomes. However, the program is estimated to decrease the crime rates in the community and prevent drug abuse in probationers, decreasing property insurance, and crime rates in the community.

The long-term strategies for the program include attracting medical and education staff to address the parolees’ problems with drug abuse; if the program is proven efficient, the funding can proceed to the second and the third years allowing the stakeholders observe the positive changes in the community: decrease of crime rates, drug abuse, and property insurance cost. The program is able to attract more participants, which will make the probationer officers’ work easier. At last, the program’s potential includes improving the safety status of the community.

Program Goals Achieved

The program goals were achieved as the community members noticed a slight decrease in drug abuse rates; probation officers also confirmed that eight out of ten parolees did not commit any crimes and did not use drugs during their probation. The adult education teacher noticed improvements in probationers’ behavior and their desire to reintegrate into society. Only two parolees did not pass drug tests; they had also missed the lectures provided by the program, stated the adult education teacher in the interview. This fact could explain why the program did not affect these two individuals.

Program Processes Are Effective

To prove that program processes were effective, the author examined a case study of one of the probationers, L.N., who had been participating in the program for twelve months. As the participant noticed, at first he did not believe in the effectiveness of the program. However, he also did not want to experience jail stay again, even a short one. This has helped him to remain abstinent from drugs. Although he did not believe in successful reintegration into society, his aims changed after the program implementation. Now he is actively searching for a job and aims to ask for the custody order to visit his daughter.

Program is Producing Results

To evaluate the program’s effectiveness, statistical analysis was used. The Montgomery Police Department had reported that the number of drug abuse cases in the community decreased from fifteen to eight percent of all cases. Most of the cases did not involve probationers, although two of them also used drugs and were charged with substance abuse.

Program Is Meeting Timeline

From an annual perspective, all goals that were set by the program were achieved. The program did not exceed the one-year period of implementation and provided expected outcomes, i.e. the crime rates in the community and drug use of probationers had decreased. Moreover, the program had helped the probationers reintegrate into the society: some of them were able to find a job by the end of the program, while others appealed for custody or could reunite with their family members. Some of the members stated in the interviews that this year had helped them to overcome drug addiction, although additional therapy is needed to assure the abstinence is successful.

Program Is Operating Within Budget Parameters

As it is required for the budget to demonstrate expected results and provide the outcomes to evaluate if the results are as expected, it is also necessary to show stakeholders that budget parameters are not violated (Cheng, 2008). The funding was leveraged according to the program aims and budget: most of the funding covered salaries and insurances for the staff, as well as rent and medical assistance. To ensure that program funds were being utilized correctly, monthly reports were provided to the funding source. Only if the funding source was not sustainable, the program was entitled to use the other funding source.

Program Has Adequate Resources Available

The primary revenue sources of the program include the Montgomery County Commission in the short term and the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) in the long term. As no alternative to the proposed program exists, it is unlikely that the funding will stop due to the implementation of another similar program. Lack of an alternative was a favorable circumstance during the implementation process.

As the sources of financing will use property and vehicle taxes, as well as court fees and other licenses, its sustainability is expected to remain constant. As the Alabama Department of Corrections exists for more than 30 years and has provided support for various programs during those years, it is possible to assume that ADOC will be a reliable funding source for the program (Thomas, 2014). At last, if both funding sources diminish, a contingency plan will ensure the program has an additional source: Central Alabama Community Foundation that provides funding to programs that target the community and its well-being.

Executive Summary

The program was implemented to reduce the drug use rates in the community Virginia Estates, Montgomery, AL; it has also helped decrease the workload of officers, judges, and attorneys. Probationers who took part in the program were able to overcome drug addiction and reintegrate into the society; some of them were employed by the end of the program, while the others could reunite with their families.

The program, based on the HOPE program implemented from the years 2004 to 2009, reduced crime rates in the community and decreased the cost of property insurance. As the members of the community had stated, it became safer compared to the previous years when probationers committed crimes under the influence of drugs. The number of drug abuse cases has decreased from fifteen to eight percent in the community.

Conclusion

As it is crucial to understand the interests of the stakeholders, the program needs to be evaluated accordingly to show what benefits the community, the stakeholders, the participants, and the funding sources can derive from it (Rubin, 2013). To evaluate the program, interviews, case studies, and the observation method were used. The funding sources of the program were identified as sustainable, and the outcomes of the program were addressed.

References

Cheng, G. (2008). Budget tools: Financial methods in the public sector. New York, NY: CQ Press.

Rubin, I. (2013). The politics of public budgeting: Getting and spending, borrowing and balancing. New York, NY: CQ Press.

Thomas, S. L. (2014). Correctional curriculum evaluation: An uncovering of effective practices that reduce the rate of prison recidivism in the state of Alabama. Boston, MA: Northeastern University.

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