24 Wolcott Hill Road
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Phone: (860) 692-7651
Fax: (860) 692-7646
Directions.

Director: Dr. Dan Bannish
Learn more about this Director.

The Department of Correction provides comprehensive health care to the offender population that meets a community standard of care, and includes medical, mental health, dental, addiction and ancillary services, in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and consent decrees. This spectrum of health care is carried out through a partnership the Department has established with the services of the University of Connecticut, Correctional Managed Health Care.

Mental Health Treatment

Through this partnership, the agency has established a highly progressive approach to the treatment of inmates with significant mental health needs.  The Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown has been designated as the Department's dedicated mental health facility for adult male offenders requiring significant mental health treatment.  Both accused and sentenced offenders who are classified as requiring that level of care are assigned here.  Individualized treatment plans, based upon an offender's level of functionality include extensive programming and therapy, in a group and one on one setting.  The staff at the facility, both custody and mental health, operates through an integrated team approach which insures a continuity of custody, care, treatment and control. The program is designed to return as many of these offenders as is possible to the ability to function in either a general population prison setting or ultimately to life in the community. 

Substance Abuse Treatment

The Department's addiction services provide a graduated system of substance abuse treatment programs. The agency's Objective Classification System indicates that 88% of the inmates who come into the system have a substance abuse history that suggests a significant need for some level of substance abuse treatment. Based on the offender's individual need, which is determined through a formal assessment, they may receive treatment in; Tier 1, a nine session Pre-Release Substance Treatment Program focusing on re-entry and reintegration issues for offenders returnig to the community; Tier 2, a four times a week, intensive out patient program with a curriculum that helps develop an understanding of addiction; Tier 3, a four month residential substance abuse treatment program designed to provide recovery and relapse prevention skills with a focus on reentry or: Tier 4, which is a residential six  month program in a modified therapeutic community setting.  Tiers 2,3 and 4 offer an Aftercare Program designed to provide a continuum of care and maintenance of recovery.  A Community Addiction Services Program provides substance abuse treatment for offenders placed under supervision in the community.

Addiction Services Unit Program Structure

An evaluation of the Tier Structure, conducted by Brown and Brandeis Universities in 2002, found that inmates who attended any Tier program were significantly less likely to be rearrested. Of those inmates who participated in Tier programming, 32.5% were re-arrested within one year compared to a rate of 45.9% for those who did not attend. Additionally, the severity of the crimes committed was also reduced.

During the course of FY2004, nearly $11.5-million was spent by the agency on substance abuse treatment.  More than 7300 inmates received some level of addiction services during that time period.  In addition to the Tier Program, in excess of 2,700 Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings were held in correctional facilities.  The Department also has Addiction Services Counselors at each of its Parole and Community Services offices to provide a bridge of treatment to those offenders who are returning to the community.

DUI offenders are treated in a 300-bed unit through a curriculum designed to address the specific treatments needs of each inmate.

Description and details of contracted health and mental health services (PDF, 800 KB)

Health Services also established the Hospice and Palliative Care Program.

SPRP Project: Analysis of the Cost Effectiveness of Correctional Substance Abuse Treatment Programs