The Essex Drug Action Team Project began as a three-year initiative to get offenders who misuse drugs out of crime into treatment. The Programme has been so successful that the Government has extended its financial commitment indefinitely. More than �165 million a year is now being invested to expand the Programme until its processes become the normal way or working with adult drug-misusing offenders across England and Wales.
People who misuse Class A drugs often commit crimes to fund their drug habit. As a result, they can get caught in a cycle of drug misuse, crime and prison. The programme aims to break this cycle by making every stage in the criminal justice system � and beyond � an opportunity to get offenders into treatment.
The Essex Drug Action Team Project is a Home Office funded service for Class A drug using adults whose offending behaviour is motivated by their drug use. (Heroin, Crack Cocaine and Cocaine users aged 18 plus).
The Essex Drug Action Team Project works closely with the Criminal Justice system (Police / Courts / Prison Service / CARATs / Probation / Prolific Offender Groups) to provide an 'end to end' case management service that tracks offenders as they pass through the criminal justice system, offering them as many opportunities to engage in drug treatment as they need.
After this,The Essex Drug Action Team Project works with offenders to help them resettle into society. This is a process known as Throughcare and Aftercare. Case Managers provide access to services that will provide offenders with the means to make a positive difference to their drug use offending behaviour - Essex Drug Action Team is a crime reduction initiative primarily, but also aims to reduce problematic drug use, re-offending, drug related death and the problems that Class A drug use can cause in communities.
|
