Guest Blogger: Peter Provet responds to NY Times article

Today, the New York Times published an article (“To Trim Costs, States Relax Hard Line on Prisons”) on the increasing number of states relying on alternatives to incarceration as a means of cutting costs. Eventually it had to stop. The fact that hard economy reality is leading the charge to change the way we do business in the prison system is an opportunity we can’t afford to miss.

In the article, New York State gets a small mention for its latest attempt to reform the harsh mandatory sentencing laws that have fueled much of the State’s outsize prison costs, but it fails to mention an innovative effort underway to address the most difficult and expensive challenge in the prison system – addicted former inmates who violate parole. In a new program, three of the government agencies involved in criminal justice and addiction (NYS Department of Corrections, NYS Division of Parole, and NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services) are working together with Odyssey House to control costs and improve outcomes for eligible parole violators who, consistent with the pathology of addiction, are at risk of relapsing several times before achieving lasting sobriety.

For decades, drug courts and drug treatment providers have worked together to divert non-violent drug offenders away from prison cells and into treatment. The savings to society are significant - $18,000 per bed for basic long-term treatment, compared to $35,000 average cost of prison, and a return of seven-to-one in reclaimed productivity, for every dollar spent on treatment – but even greater is the saving in individual lives and reunited families.

Guest Blogger: Peter Provet on the Rockefeller drug laws

As Governor David Paterson moves to overhaul New York State’s Rockefeller drug laws, legislators, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials need to throw their weight behind an established treatment program that offers so much more than just an alternative to incarceration. The model is long-term, residential, therapeutic community (TC) treatment. Now more than 40 years old, the TC is an established, accredited, and respected treatment of choice for chronic substance abusers recognized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as well as law enforcement officials, prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges. This tested model was developed in New York to both mitigate the harsher elements of our state’s drug laws and it is testament to the treatment model’s success and durability that it is now a national standard for targeting addiction-fueled nonviolent crime.

The TC is not only cheaper than prison (approximately $20,000 per bed, per year), it is more effective in reducing recidivism and helping addicts get and stay sober. Helping addicted individuals improve their education, train for and get a job, find housing, and reunite with family are the bedrock benefits of this adaptable and flexible model. Punishing addicts has cost our State millions – perhaps billions - of dollars for very little in return, while treating addiction saves taxpayers seven to one for every dollar spent. It is incontrovertible that greater justice, individual rehabilitation, and cost savings will result from sentencing reform.

At Odyssey House, we’re closely following the progress of this legislative reform, as is The New York Times, the New York Daily News, and other media outlets.

Peter Provet, Ph.D.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Odyssey House & Odyssey Foundation

Teens in treatment begin theater workshop

Beginning today, 15 teens in treatment at Odyssey House will be participating in a three month playwriting workshop, the Odyssey House Theatre Project. The teens will participate in all stages of the playwriting process, from concept development to stage production. They will also have the opportunity to learn from a variety of guest actors and directors.

Odyssey House is partnering with City Lights Youth Theatre to run the program, which will culminate on June 8th with a performance at the Studio Theatre on 42nd Street. Directing the artistic and instructional elements of the Odyssey House Theatre Project will be Tom Demenkoff, education director for City Lights. The project is funded by a grant from the Elizabeth & Barets O. Benjamin Charitable Foundation.

Visit the website to learn more about the project, including details about the guest artists and a schedule of events.