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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 2000)
Study: Addiction treatment reduces crime ■ Task force says preven tion treatment would be cheaper than incarceration. By Michelle Starr Staff writer Increased substance abuse treat ment could reduce crime and break the cycle of some repeat offenders suffering from chemical addiction, and it could reduce costs for the state. At least that’s what the final report released by the Substance Abuse Treatment Task Force said Thursday. The 21-member task force, in conjunction with the Crime Commission, began investigating substance abuse treatment after being sparked by 10 to 15 years of state and national concern among lawmakers and correctional facilities for juvenile and adult treatment, the task force report said. It was put into action by LB865, which was passed during the 1999 legislative session to study substance abuse treatment in the Nebraska cor rections system. The report also said that national studies show that if proper substance abuse treatment is provided to people on probation, incarcerated or on Our movie info line will provide you with everything you need to know about catching the latest flick from any of our nine theatres. Laughter, excitement and fun is just a phone call away. DOUGLAS THEATRE CO. -—-f . — Fiery bluet from the late Luther Alliton in one of hit latt performancet I Friday at 9 p.m. CT/8 p.m. MT on Nebraska ETV & Monday, Feb.28, at 8 p.m. CT/7p.m. MT on EduCable channels EASKA ETV NETWORK l\ JCABLE Nebraska Educational NabfMfca ARTS COUNCIL tin part by thefiebraska Arts Council . ■ parole, the probability they will com mit crimes is reduced by 67 percent. By reducing the rate of repeated offenses, the task force said the state could save money in court and hous ing costs. It could also result in a decrease in crime, which would in turn cause an increase in public safety. “We cannot continue to chase our tail,” said Ellen Brokofsky, a member of the task force. Elkhorn Sen. Dwite Pedersen, a member of the task force, said the focus on controlling crime should be put into prevention, such as substance abuse treatment, rather than increas ing the disciplinary sector, such as increased prison facilities. Nearly $20 million will be spent yearly on 500 new full-time employ ees for new correctional facilities being built throughout the state. If only half of that money were devoted to substance abuse treatment, it would do a lot of good, Pedersen said. An assessment study for the task force, conducted by Denise Herz and Melissa Vincent, both of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Department of Criminal Justice, found that 25 to 40 percent of adults arrested and 65 to 85 percent of adult inmates need some sort of substance abuse treatment, even if they are not incarcerated for substance abuse, Herz said. Two outside consultants, Jim May from the Richmond Virginia Behavior Center and Ken Winters from the University of Minnesota, also aided in the research. Both have been involved in simi lar studies in various states across the country. Brokofsky said May specializes in substance abuse treatment for adults, and Winters specializes in substance abuse treatment for juveniles. Papillion Sen. Nancy Thompson said from the task force’s research, it’s \ The people are dedicated and trying to turn things around, but they don’t have the access to the (treatment) services Ellen Brokofcky v member of Substance Abuse Treatment Task Force estimated that for every $1 spent on substance abuse treatment, the state saves $4 to $7 on drug-related crime, and court costs. Brokofsky, a facilitator for the treatment assessment subcommittee, said the investigation of substance abuse treatment in Nebraska began in June 1999 with two monthly meet ings. It also found that 30 to 40 percent of juveniles arrested and 65 to 80 per cent of juvenile offenders at treatment centers in Geneva and Kearney require treatment. The findings for both adults and juveniles are based on figures from 1997. Kathy Seacrest, task force chair woman, said research showed that only 4 percent of 400 people who received treatment came back with a felony charge. Brokofsky said offenders and incarcerated adults and juveniles are not the only people in the system who need treatment; people on parole or on probation need treatment, too. For example, some 22,600 adults statewide on probation are in need of treatment, Brokofsky said. Those numbers also reinforce the need for follow-up treatment after the inmate is released, she said. The task force also cited that of the $19,702,702 allocated for sub stance abuse treatment in the 1999 2000 fiscal year, only 4 percent went toward the adult criminal justice sys tem; only 1 percent of that money ;i went toward treatment of juveniles. < None of the money was given to the courts or probation services, the task force said. From the investigation, the Health and Human Services, the Crime Commission, the Department of Probation, the Department of Corrections, the parole board and the task force all gave suggestions to improve the substance abuse treat ment in the state. Included in the suggestions was an idea to revamp the allocation of money for treatment and establish a statewide method for tackling sub stance abuse. Modifying the training for treat ment counselors, increased commu nication between correctional facili ties and treatment facilities, such as the Division of Mental Health, are included in the suggestions. Thompson said though the pro gram could use improvement, it does not mean effort is lacking. “We do not do a good job in this (treatment) area,” she said. “The peo ple are dedicated and trying to turn things around, but they don’t have the access to the (treatment) services.” Seacrest said the information pro vided by the task force is to help law makers develop legislation to improve the system. The task force is asking for legis lation for 2001 to implement improvements in treatment. Two murder suspects arrested SUSPECTS from page 1 county court Thursday, Siddens con fessed during questioning Wednesday that he shot Jones during an exchange of gunfire between him and Jones. Based on the investigation, the two men allegedly planned a robbery at the store, which resulted in the death of Jones and two bullet wounds to Siddens, Casady said. A gun that was stolen from the store and used in the murder was found in the suspects’ possession during their arrests. But Casady would not say where police found the weapon. Court documents said that in Pendell’s testimony to police, Siddens allegedly told Pendell that he had gotten rid of the gun. According to information gath ered during the investigation, Siddens entered the gun shop - min utes before the store was to close at 6 p.m. - carrying a loaded magazine that fits into the .22-caliber rifle taken from the store, Casady said. Siddens allegedly loaded the gun he found in the store and confronted Jones, Casady said. According to court documents, Siddens told police that when he; showed the weapon, a gunfight ensued. Casady said sometime during the confrontation, Jones, who had a .38 caliber special revolver, fired five shots, two of which hit Siddens in his stomach and shoulder. Siddens fired nine shots, Casady said. According to court documents, Jones was shot several times and died from a gunshot wound to the head. Both bullets wounding Siddens entered and left his body, Casady said. Neither of Siddens’ wounds inca pacitated him, and he allegedly left the gun store with the victim on the floor. Siddens, who had not sought medical attention for the wounds, was still recovering at his home when he was arrested at 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, Casady said. Jones was found on the floor of the store by Mark Hatten, a customer who was picking up some guns for the annual Black Powder Gun Show at the State Fair Park that weekend. Hatten then called police, and Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. The robbery and shooting are not thought to be related to the weekend gun show, Casady said. According to the investigation, Pendell was waiting for Siddens out side in a truck, Casady said. Pendell was arrested at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday at Madsen’s, 4700 Dudley St. The court documents also stated that during questioning Pendell said when Siddens returned to the truck, he told Pendell he thought he had killed Jones. Pendell then reportedly took Siddens home. The men may be from Iowa, and Casady said it was unknown how long the two had been in Lincoln. They both have criminal records in Nebraska, including PendelTs Jan. 6 arrest for felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. He allegedly had 14 grams of methamphetamine, eight empty syringes, eight empty bags, two scales and a black knife at the time of his arrest for attempting to shoplift a pack of cigarettes at Super Saver, 233 N. 48th St., court documents said. That same day he also was arrest ed for misdemeanor offenses includ ing possession of drug parapherna lia, carrying a concealed weapon and concealing merchandise. Prosecution was declined in the mis demeanor charges. Pendell appeared in court j Wednesday on a motion for a court- j appointed lawyer for the drug / charges. \ The charge is still pending, and bond was set at 10 percent of $5,000. i Casady said drugs, particularly / meth, were either directly or indirect ly involved in. the murder, but he had ) no reason to believe the two were on > the drug at the time of the murder. Casady said he also was con- j cemed about the growing popularity of the drug in Lincoln and through- t out the state, especially because of its I involvement in serious crimes. Siddens was arrested and found 1 guilty of a misdemeanor charge for > concealing merchandise on Jan. 6. ; According to court records, he was > fined in county court for $ 100. -j Though arrests for the murder have been made, the investigation is on-going, Casady said. ine two suspects remain in Lancaster County jail. Casady credited Lincoln Police detectives’ hard work and the Crimestoppers tip for the arrests. “I can tell you, until we got the, information (from Crimestoppers), they weren’t suspects,” he said. j The two arrests came a day | before a press conference for a task force study into substance abuse treatment. The task force concluded that in improving the substance abuse treat- ■ ment for prisoners, people on proba tion and on parole would benefit the community, and in turn reduce the number of repeat offenders, said Kathy Seacrest, of the task force, Thursday morning. ; Though Casady said he didn’t) know about the task force and its findings, he did think it sounded pos- j itive. [ “I’m all in favor of more treat ment,” he said. .