Who provides treatment?
Treatment is provided sometimes directly by officers but most often comes either from community programs that provide services at no cost to the federal government or from treatment providers who are under contract to the United States courts. The Director of the Administrative Office, under 18 U.S.C. 3672, has the authority to “contract with any appropriate public or private agency or person for the detection of and care in the community of an offender who is an alcohol-dependent person, an addict, or a drug-dependent person. . . . ” Approximately 2,400 contractors nationwide currently provide substance abuse services. Contracts are awarded through a competitive process. The specialist serves as coordinator of treatment services, matching the defendant or offender with appropriate treatment providers, monitoring the person’s progress in and compliance with treatment, controlling treatment and testing funds, and overseeing the various treatment providers.
