Offender Perceptions of Mandated Substance Abuse Treatment

Abstract

Offenders with a substance abuse diagnosis are often ordered to participate in treatment. However, little is known about how offenders perceive this mandate or how the criminal justice system should be involved. The procedural justice orientation suggests that offenders who view the mandate as legitimate and useful will be more likely to comply. In-depth interviews with probationers and parolees are analyzed to explore this issue. Overall, offenders held conflicting opinions about the mandate to attend treatment. Although offenders disliked being ordered to complete drug treatment, they understood the benefit of attending as a part of their reintegration and sobriety. Offenders felt their supervising officers were fair, but their role in drug treatment was to ensure program completion. This study adds to the literature by providing insight into offender perceptions of mandated treatment and the dimensions of the offender–officer relationship. Implications for procedural justice, future research, and policy are discussed.