February 10, 2022
Last month, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) published a legal guide describing the significance of substance withdrawal supervision in jails and the laws protecting people in jails. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), 63 percent of incarcerated adults have substance use disorders, compared to 5 percent of adults who are not incarcerated. This brief describes the scope of the challenge, provides an overview of constitutional rights and key legislation related to substance use withdrawal, and outlines steps for creating a comprehensive response to substance use disorders.
To read more on substance use disorder awareness in jails, access Managing Substance Withdrawal In Jails: A Legal Brief.