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Lawmakers press DOC on SAP waiting lists and whether court‑ordered treatment is delivered
Summary
Legislators told the Department of Corrections that long waiting lists for court‑ordered substance‑abuse programming (SAP) can discourage judges from ordering treatment; DOC said it prioritizes court‑ordered cases and uses transfers but acknowledged capacity limits and possible gaps, and the committee requested follow‑up statistics.
Lawmakers on the Joint Prison Oversight Committee pressed the Alabama Department of Corrections on whether court‑ordered substance‑abuse treatment (SAP) reaches the people judges intend to send to the program.
Representative Simpson told DOC that waiting lists are "extensive" and can create a perverse incentive: if completing SAP would keep someone in custody longer because of delays, judges and defendants may avoid ordering it. "If I order SAP, they may be waiting on the wait list... they can't get out on parole until they've completed substance abuse program," Simpson said.
Judge Hill told the committee that when a judge orders someone into a program, "we expect that individual to go through that program... They're orders. They're not suggestions." He described split sentencing approaches he has used—giving a sentence that is reduced upon program completion—to help defendants access treatment.
A DOC official responding to the committee said the department prioritizes court‑ordered SAP enrollments, conducts clinical evaluations and assessments, and sometimes transfers individuals to facilities with open beds to accommodate treatment. The official acknowledged finite capacity and conceded it is possible some cases might "fall through the cracks," but said the agency generally captures most court‑ordered cases.
Members asked DOC to provide statistics on how many court‑ordered SAP participants do not receive treatment in a timely fashion and to explain the application or assignment process for program enrollment. DOC agreed to return that information to the committee.
Ending: The committee requested data on timely access to court‑ordered SAP and procedural details about how inmates are selected and moved into programs; the information will inform whether legislative changes or funding allocations are necessary.
