Treatment of Forensic Populations

FPSY 6511

Treatment of Forensic Populations

Treatment Outcome Models

By Matthew D. Geyer

2009

The Case of Sandy:

Sandy Lee is a 28-year-old woman who was arrested and convicted of trafficking in cocaine. As a component of her incarceration, the court required her to participate in a residential treatment program followed by outpatient substance abuse counseling when she was released from prison. During her time in the residential treatment program, she participated regularly in the group meetings and even sought individual counseling for problems associated with past abusive relationships. Shortly after Sandy completed the program, she was paroled and lived in a halfway house for approximately six months. She saw a substance abuse counselor on a weekly basis in addition to attending weekly group support sessions. Sandy also saw a psychiatrist every three months to maintain her on an antidepressant that was prescribed by the prison psychiatrist after Sandy was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. Upon discharge from the halfway house, she moved into an apartment, was reunited with her children, and was able to maintain stable employment.

Four months after she had been in her own apartment with her children and maintaining a job, she was selected by her parole officer to participate in random drug testing. Three days prior to being tested, she went out on a date to a local bar. She and her date went outside and he offered her some marijuana. Although Sandy knew the risks, she also was not concerned because she had not been tested in more than three months and was certain that one “smoke” would not create problems for her. At the time, she told herself, “This is just going to let me enjoy tonight a bit more…I haven’t smoked marijuana in four years and I am not planning on dealing again.”

As a result of a positive drug screen three days later, her parole officer had her arrested. She was returned to jail on a “technical violation” of her...