The Bureau of Counseling and Treatment Services is responsible for the oversight of behavioral health services for offenders in the custody of the Arizona Department of Corrections.  Offenders receiving these services may be experiencing mild to severe symptoms indicative of a mental illness, may have a history of substance abuse, may be considered mild to mentally retarded or with developmental delays, or may have a history of a sexual offense.  The goal of providing behavioral health services is to produce long-term change that will increase quality of life, reduce substance abuse and criminal conduct and facilitate successful transition into the community. These services are provided in general population units, special program units, and in the licensed psychiatric facility within the Arizona Department of Corrections.  Offender participation in behavioral health programming addresses issues such as substance abuse, sexual offenses, and mental health will significantly assist in the reduction of relapse, revocation, and recidivism.  Addiction Treatment Services, Mental Health, Sex Offender Education and Treatment, and the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities programs provide an array of behavioral health programming that includes psycho-educational classes, crisis intervention, screening, evaluation, counseling, therapy, and psychotropic medications.

Counseling and Treatment services are provided in three basic program areas:

The Sex Offender Education and Treatment Program (SOETP) is based on a cognitive-behavioral and relapse prevention model of assessment, treatment and supervision.  SOETP is located at ASPC-Tucson and provides a therapeutic community for male sex offenders. Treatment components include psychological testing/assessment, acknowledging responsibility for offending behavior, modifying cognitive distortions, managing deviant sexual urges and impulses, developing victim empathy, enhancing social competencies, acquiring relapse prevention skills, and community notification/treatment. 

In addition to the men’s program at ASPC-Tucson, SOETP services are also offered at ASPC-Perryville.  The female program is also based on a cognitive behavioral and relapse prevention model of assessment, treatment and supervision.  Psycho-educational modules and relapse prevention groups are designed to address gender differences as well as female offenders’ specific needs and pathways to crime.

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Addiction Treatment Services oversees the delivery of substance abuse treatment to ADC offenders identified as being in need of intervention.  The screening process is based on self report and/or based on a review of the available corresponding data.  Identified offenders are ranked according to need, time left to serve, and risk for recidivism into one of four services categories: Intensive Treatment, Moderate Treatment, Educational, or no need.

Intensive Treatment is a one year program and Moderate Treatment is a six month program.  All ATS treatment groups are conducted by licensed substance abuse counselors who incorporate evidenced-based curricula in a cognitive behavioral treatment approach.  Currently, treatment is offered at nine of the ten ASPC complexes.

DUI treatment is offered at Private Prison facilities for male offenders and through contract services at ASPC-Perryville for female offenders. These programs provide 36 hours of DUI treatment as statutorily mandated for convicted DUI offenders. Offenders attend classes in such topics as parenting, family dynamics of addiction, and stress management throughout their length of sentence.

Self Help/ Mutual Help Support Groups

The Arizona Department of Corrections values the self help/mutual help support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and SMART Recovery offered through community volunteers. At units where offenders are permitted to meet in groups and contingent upon the availability of volunteers at the individual units, a variety of these groups are offered on a weekly basis.

Currently mental retardation and developmental disability services are a coordinated effort on behalf of the CTS programs. Recently, the department added a Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability Program Manager.

The Department acknowledges that offenders with special needs require additional case coordination, most importantly comprehensive services.  The Department is currently focused on the following areas of disabilities: Autism, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, and Intellectual Disability (formerly known as Mental Retardation). 

Although some offenders may not have a diagnosis of a developmental disability, they may be identified as benefiting from more intensive attention and assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) training to be used when released. The MR/DD Program will strive to facilitate the successful reintegration of the offender into the community.

For more information, please contact:
Counseling and Treatment Administrator
(602) 542-4818