State Unveils Blueprint for Prison-Based Addiction Services Under Rockefeller Drug Reform

ALBANY, NY (06/30/2009)(readMedia)-- Criminal Justice and Addiction Agencies Unveil Blueprint for Prison-Based Addiction Services under Rockefeller Drug Law Reform at Willard Drug Treatment Campus

WHAT: Denise E. O'Donnell, Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Public Safety and Commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justices Services; Department of Correctional Services Commissioner Brian Fischer; Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo; and Andrea Evans, Chairwoman and CEO of the Division of Parole, unveil an addiction treatment model that will serve as a blueprint for in-prison drug treatment preparedness under the Rockefeller Drug Law reforms signed this year by Governor David A. Paterson. The agency heads, as well as a Willard counselor who provides direct services to parolees and several parolees themselves, will be available for media interviews.

WHEN: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

WHERE: Willard Drug Treatment Campus, 7116 County Route 132, Willard (Seneca County)

MapQuest directions are available at:

http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?1sb=revise&2pn=&2a=&2c=Willard&2s=NY&2z=14588&2y=US&cid=lfddlink)

Media planning to attend should email Erik.Kriss@docs.state.ny.us by 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2009 with a list of all personnel and equipment they plan to bring into Willard. Normal tools of the trade will be permitted, however cell phones, laptops and other electronic equipment are strictly prohibited.

BACKGROUND: The New York State Department of Correctional Services' Willard Drug Treatment Campus in Seneca County provides treatment readiness services as part of a 90-day residential program to certain parole violators as an alternative to traditional incarceration and to individuals who receive parole supervision sentences pursuant to section 410.91 of the State Criminal Procedure Law. Willard is launching a new phase of its corrections-based addiction treatment readiness program in collaboration with the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and the Division of Parole to enhance addiction services "behind the walls" to parolees and to serve as a model for in-prison drug treatment preparedness programs. A Willard counselor and a parolee-participant will discuss how the program enhancements, which have already begun to be implemented, are benefitting parolees who are sent to Willard for treatment readiness services. State officials will discuss how the Willard enhancements will serve as a model for enhancements to drug treatment readiness within the State's correctional facilities as called for under Rockefeller Drug Law reform. OASAS Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo will present DOCS Commissioner Fischer with a new operating certificate for Willard to reflect the enhancements.