Treatment alternatives to street crime - An evaluation of five programs

In response to the increasing numbers of criminal offenders involved with drugs, the criminal justice system has sought more effective means of intervening with these offenders. One intervention approach is Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC), an offender management model that has been implemented in various forms since the early 1970s. TASC facilitates treatment for drug-using offenders as part of an overall strategy to control drug use and associated criminal behaviors. This article reviews the evolution of TASC and reports findings from an evaluation of five TASC programs. The evaluation, experimental at two sites and quasiexperimental at three, found favorable effects of TASC programs on service delivery and offenders' drug use. Findings on criminal recidivism were mixed and difficult to interpret. This article concludes with specific recommendations for improving TASC and similar programs within the criminal justice system.