KEY/CREST Substance Abuse Program

Delaware Department of Corrections

KEY/CREST uses therapeutic-based programming to treat and modify the behaviors of substance abusers in prison and in a work-release center. In both the prison and the work release center, program participants live in a therapeutic community where they learn to help themselves and other residents in order to change their behavior and to reduce their drug abuse. Inmates can volunteer for the program if they meet the eligibility criteria and are within 18 months of their release date.

Description

In 1987, the State of Delaware (with the assistance of the Bureau of Justice Assistance) established the first stage of the substance abuse treatment program, called the KEY. The KEY program is prison-based, but participants in the program are separated from the general correctional population. Participants are separated in a therapeutic community to create an atmosphere where participants will not encounter negative attitudes about drug abuse treatment and so that the participants will be held accountable for their actions. Offenders spend about 12 months in the KEY program, participating in substance abuse treatment and various behavior modification programs.

The second stage is a transitional treatment program at a CREST Outreach Center where participants spend another 6 months. The CREST component is a therapeutic community workrelease center that builds upon the prison-based KEY program. The CREST Outreach Center was established with the help of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Inmates go through four phases of treatment at the CREST Outreach Center. During the “Entry” phase inmates go through an orientation and become acclimated to life outside prison. In the “Primary” phase counselors and inmates work on a transition plan and explore possible triggers of relapse. The third or “Job-seeking” phase requires that offenders work on interview skills and jobtraining skills. During the “Work-release” phase inmates maintain a job while living at the facility and attending drug treatment.

Participants are required to stay at the center for the first three months of this phase. After completing the treatment program at Crest, participants may move to aftercare. The aftercare stage lasts for six months, during which nonresident participants maintain contact with the program. Aftercare participants must refrain from all drug and alcohol use, attend group sessions and counseling, and undergo periodic drug testing.