The clinical-correctional interface in the treatment of drug offenders: the evidence from N.S.W. australia.
There is a significant overlap between Justice and Health (plus other Community Services) systems in their responsibility for drug offenders. We are met with a paradox however at the interface between correctional and treatment concerns. Though it would be of considerable benefit to mesh these systems each with their own well defined role into closer collaborative effort, it is equally essential that they maintain their respective distances so as to protect the integrity of their individual, possibly conflicting, primary goals (the broader view of Justice in terms of community protection and the narrower focus of Health upon the well-being of the individual). Attempts to organize such an interface emphasising only the requirements of the Correctional System have often led to a counterproductive reaction from Health personnel. Fortunately Aprill et al. [13] have outlined a more harmonious possibility which they distinguish as the Milwaukee Model. It involves clearly defining the special role of a Probation/Parole Worker and integrating it into the day-to-day clinical program so as to specifically fulfill the linkage function between clinic and courts. A contemporaneous development in Sydney (1977-1981) offers some measurement of the Health and Justice personnel's perceptions of a 'diversion' scheme before and after the institution of such a linkage worker. The results are highly supportive of Aprill et al.'s findings.
D001315:Australia; D003376:Counseling; D006801:Humans; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy