Rehabilitative Services Mental Health Services Update

Studies show that substance use is the number one reason offenders fail to transition successfully back to their community and become re-incarcerated.  By providing effective evidence-based substance use treatment to offenders both in prison and in the community,  TDOC works to reduce offender recidivism by providing the skills necessary for offenders to enter into recovery from substance use and to successfully transition back into society.

In the previous year, TDOC provided substance use treatment to 2,399 offenders in TDOC custody.  TDOC provides intensive therapeutic community-based treatment for inmates with moderate to severe substance use disorders.  Less intensive group therapy is provided for inmates who are determined to have mild substance use disorders.

TDOC additionally referred 3,247 offenders in the last year to community-based substance use treatment following release from incarceration.  Treatment is provided through the Community Treatment Collaborative (CTC) in a partnership with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS).

TDOC has recently started a pilot program with TDMHSAS to provide medication-assisted treatment to offenders with opiate use disorders to reduce their risk of relapse as they transition from incarceration back to their community.