Substance abuse programs

Duting the 1990s, substance abuse
programming shifted from the delivery of
setvices to drinking drivers, to recognition that
substance abuse is an important issue for most
offenders. Until 1993, Alcohol and Drug
Services provided substance abuse programs
for incarcerated offenders. Community clients
were expected to access mainstream community
programs delivered by Alcohol and Drug
Services. However, treatment providers often
resisted delivering services to individuals who
they perceived as coerced into treatment by the
courts.

After 1993, the Corrections Branch contracted
for its own substance abuse services with
community agencies. By 1996, substance abuse
programming was available in most institutions
and community locations in the province.

Other programs were initiated in the early
1990s that were directed at offender groups.
These programs focused on critical thinking
skills, social skills and life skills. They
proliferated through the mid-1990s until the
Branch adopted tisk/needs assessment tools.

Services and programs for aboriginal
offenders

Specialized programming for aboriginal
offenders focused on the involvement of
aboriginal agencies in the delivery of services.
This direction grew out of consultations in the
late 1980s, which produced recommendations
for more First Nations control of programs.”
There were also recommendations for more
involvement of aboriginal people in the delivery

of programs, preparation of release plans,

applications for early release, and development
of alternatives to imprisonment.

Through contracted aboriginal organizations,
culturally-based programs were developed. In
the community, these included life, parenting,
employment skills, and substance abuse relapse
prevention programs.

During the 1990s, the Branch established
contracts with First Nations organizations to
provide native justice workers. These workers
assisted probation officers with high caseloads
of aboriginal clients to:

a Supervise aboriginal offenders on probation;

» Improve communication and case
management between correctional centres
and native communities; and

» Involve aboriginal probationers in activities
and programs that support traditional native
justice values and practices.

The Canim Lake Band initiated a family
violence program in 1994-95 with support from
the Ministry of Attorney General. It offered an
alternative to criminal charges by encouraging
abusers to admit their offences. Offenders were
then offered treatment without formal charges.
Both the Corrections Branch and Community
Justice Branch of the Ministry of Attorney
General provided funding.

In correctional centres, culturally-based
programs differed by location. Programs
included aboriginal substance abuse, cultural
awareness, aboriginal treatment readiness,
spiritual healing, individual counselling with
elders, and sweat lodge ceremonies. Nattve
liaison workers and elders assisted with case
management and release planning. BCCW

52 D. Bell, “Native Justice Issues,” Corrections Branch discussion paper, 1989.

The Era of Risk Management (1990-1997)

215