Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

U.S. SENATOR Jeff Bingaman

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Contact Senator Bingaman's Office:

Jude McCartin
Maria Najera
703 Hart Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5521

Bingaman: DOJ Grant to Help Fight Substance Abuse

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman announced today that the New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS) has been awarded a $216,036 grant through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to help treat substance abuse among prisoners.

"The funding awarded today will help break the cycle of dependence on illegal drugs and improve community safety by reducing the number of prisoners who are released back into society with substance abuse problems," Bingaman said.

The funds announced today were provided through DOJ's Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program, which assists state and local governments develop and implement substance abuse treatment programs in state and local correction and detention facilities.

The DPS, in conjunction with the New Mexico Corrections Department, will use the funding to continue five therapeutic communities in the New Mexico prison system and to expand a sixth community from 24 beds to 48 beds at the Springer Correctional Facility.  Additionally, funding will be used to create a Native American Therapeutic Community program to be located at the Western Correctional Facility in Grants.