Drug Rehab Programs Not as Appealing as Jail Time for One Inmate

Drug rehab programs are usually the easy way out for most potential inmates, but for one New Mexico man who had a choice - he chose the cell over the rehabilitation center. Given the alternative of incarceration or an addiction recovery center 'Second Chance Center' in Albuquerque, one of the first six inmates sentenced to the program by a local judge - with the treatment paid by the county - chose to drop out of the program and serve jail or prison time.

County Manager Steve Massey told the county commission that the inmate, ordered to the program by Magistrate Henry Castaneda through the alternative sentencing, decided he did not want to be rehabilitated and refused to cooperate during his short stay at the drug rehab center. "We were told he was uncooperative and caused problems. He didn't want to be in rehab and apparently made that very clear while he was there. He was put in isolation until we could come and get him," Massey said.

He said with the return of the inmate, it freed up a spot for another inmate to be sent to the facility. The county currently has seven inmates in the drug rehab program. In October of last year, the commission approved $73,000 to send eight people per year to the facility. Massey, Castaneda and commissioners toured the Second Chance Center and observed its prcedures before deciding to send inmates recommended by Castaneda as candidates.

According to its Web site, Second Chance receives its residents from judicial referrals. The facility is a secure, long-term substance abuse rehab center for individuals who are incarcerated or facing incarceration. "It's a five- to seven-month program," Massey said. "If the person sentenced doesn't complete the program, then jail or prison time has to be served." Massey said that since the commission approved the $73,000 almost mid-year in the county's 2007-08 fiscal year, it has enabled the county to send seven people to the program. He explained in the new fiscal year, which starts July 1, the county will send four individuals at a time for a six-month period.

"When the first four get through, then the next four will go there. Some may get through in five months, while others may need a full six months to complete the program," he said. Castaneda said he believes sending certain people to the rehab center benefits the community and saves the county money by not having to keep a person in the county lockup for 12 months or longer. He said upon successful completion of the six-month drug rehab program, the initial 12 month sentence is satisfied. Massey said the Second Chance Center facility is by no means a hotel or motel environment.