Friday, October 12, 2007
Governor Culver Praises Waterloo Program For Receiving National Justice Award
Dual Diagnosis Offender program named “Outstanding Criminal Justice Program”
(Waterloo)- Governor Culver recognized a Waterloo program that helps offenders dealing with both substance abuse and mental health issues. The First Judicial District Department of Correctional Services Waterloo Residential Correctional Facility’s Dual Diagnosis Offender Program received an “Outstanding Criminal Justice Program” award from the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA). The award recognizes outstanding individuals and programs that have made a positive impact on community safety and criminal justice policy and practice.
Governor Culver said, “I am proud of the work being done to address these serious issues. Substance abuse and mental health cost society millions of dollars and are often associated with other problems. This program is a success and I congratulate the staff on the front lines, working to protect public safety and reduce costs to taxpayers.”
“Waterloo’s Dual Diagnosis Offender Program is a model for Iowa and the nation, the program effectively treats a growing number of offenders assessed with both substance abuse and mental health disorders,” said Gary Kendell, Iowa’s Drug Policy Coordinator and Director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy.
Of the 329 offenders served in the Dual Diagnosis Offender Program, 67 percent have successfully completed the program, resulting in greater public safety, lower incarceration rates and lower costs to taxpayers. If each of the offenders completing the program had served one year in an Iowa prison, the cost to taxpayers would have been an estimated $4.9 million.
Program supervisor Mike Schreck accepted the award on behalf of the Department of Correctional Services in Iowa’s First Judicial District. The honors were presented at NCJA’s annual National Forum on July 31 in Phoenix, Arizona. The NCJA award marks the second time Waterloo’s Dual Diagnosis Offender Program has been honored nationally. The American Corrections Association “Exemplary Offender Program Award” was presented in 2004 to the First Judicial District.”
This award was officially presented to First Judicial District Director Karen Herkleman at the Iowa Corrections Board September meeting at the Department of Corrections Fort Des Moines Residential Facility, 689 Thayer Avenue, Building 68, in Des Moines. For more information go to the Department’s website at: www.doc.state.ia.us under Board of Corrections.