cannabisnews.com: Pennsylvania Gov. Ridge Announces $10 Million! Pennsylvania Gov. Ridge Announces $10 Million! Posted by FoM on March 12, 1999 at 15:35:06 PT in drug and alcohol treatment! HARRISBURG, Pa., Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge today announced $10 million in grants for 12 county intermediate-punishment, drug- and alcohol-treatment programs for non-violent offenders. Counties awarded funds are: Allegheny; Berks; Centre; Cumberland; Delaware; Lehigh; Lycoming; Montgomery; Philadelphia; Schuylkill; Tioga; and Westmoreland. "We estimate that 80 percent of those charged with crime in Pennsylvania have some kind of drug or alcohol condition," Gov. Ridge said. "We have to be tough on crime, but we also have to be smart. We have to put an end to that addiction. "That's why we are going to invest $10 million to deal with drug- and alcohol-treatment for non-violent offenders. Intermediate punishment will hold these criminals accountable, will ultimately save taxpayers money and address the root cause of crime." In addition, Gov. Ridge noted that drug and alcohol treatment for non-violent offenders is "smart on crime." Incarceration costs $22,000 per inmate per year compared to $13,000 per year for treatment programs. Combined with drug and alcohol treatment, intermediate punishment places tougher demands on offenders and reduces repeat offenses. The grants are administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). This is the second round of $10 million grants awarded by the Ridge Administration since 1997. In 1998, 701 individuals were sentenced to drug and alcohol treatment intermediate punishment programs. The level of treatment is determined by the Pennsylvania Client Placement Criteria adopted by the state Health Department's Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs. In conjunction with residential or intensive outpatient treatment, offenders also may be sentenced to electronic monitoring; day reporting; community service; and drug testing. Offenders are required to pay victim restitution and costs associated with their supervision. The 12 participating counties have developed a local evaluation strategy to assess the impact and effectiveness of their programs. Participating counties also are working with PCCD and Pennsylvania State University to measure a program's ability to divert offenders from incarceration and to document a reduction in offender re-involvement with alcohol drugs and related criminal activity. According to a PCCD survey in 1996, approximately 90 percent of Pennsylvania's 67 counties operate one or more intermediate punishment program. Since 1995, the Ridge Administration has invested $49.6 million in intermediate punishments and drug and alcohol treatment for non-violent offenders. Note: A complete list of grant recipients is attached. COUNTY IP DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT GRANT RECIPIENTS COUNTY TITLE AWARDAllegheny Drug and Alcohol Treatment-Based RIP $1,650,000 Berks Targeting Levels 3 and 4 Offenders -- RIP $145,275 Centre Centre County RIP Treatment Program $178,061 Cumberland Cumberland County Managed Care Approach $198,797 for Levels 3 and 4 Offenders Delaware Drug and Alcohol Treatment-Based RIP $1,258,670 Lehigh Drug and Alcohol Treatment-Based RIP $880,104 Lycoming Defendant Diversion through Treatment $230,115 Montgomery RIP $689,537 Philadelphia Philadelphia IP Substance $3,819,698 Abuse Treatment Program Schuylkill Schuylkill County RIP $251,013 Tioga Treatment-Based RIP $201,541 Westmoreland Offender Day Treatment $497,189 RIP -- Restrictive Intermediate Punishment For further information, contact Autumn Gemberling of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, 717-705-0888, Ext. 3002. http://www.cnn.com/ Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: