Prison Based Services: RAPt CARAT Teams
CARAT (Counselling Assessment Referral Advice and Throughcare) is a drug service that is available in every prison. The teams were introduced in 1999 as part of the Prison Service's strategy to tackle drugs in prison.
The CARAT team is in place to provide assistance to offenders with drug-related problems. These are often people with a history of substance misuse, caught up in the criminal justice system, who are confused and concerned about their destructive behaviours. They are looking for advice and support to break the cycle of addiction and offending.
The CARAT teams' objectives are:
- To identify prisoners with substance misuse problems.
- To assess their needs.
- To provide accurate information on drugs and the harmful consequences of using them.
- To help drug-misusers access services and rehabilitation programmes and inform them about the range of choices available.
- To contribute to the case management of those who are serving custodial sentences and to liaise with appropriate services.
- To help implement an effective care plan that can realistically respond to the needs of the drug-misuser.
RAPt provides CARAT teams in the following prisons:
- HMP Bullingdon (Oxon)
- HMP Grendon/Springhill (Bucks)
- HMP Pentonville (London)
- HMP Latchmere House (Surrey)
- HMP Wandsworth (London)
- HMP Brixton (London)
- HMP Holloway (London)
- HMP Wormwood Scrubs (London)
- HMP Winchester (Hants)
- HMP Kingston (Portsmouth)
- HMP Send (Surrey)
- HMP Coldingley (Surrey)
- HMP Downview (Surrey)
- HMP High Down (Surrey)
- HMP Elmley (Kent)
- HMP Standford Hill (Kent)
MARK'S STORY
Mark came from a tough South London council estate. His mother and father were rarely at home, so, although he had the material things that he needed, there was no love. Looking for acceptance he got involved with an older gang and started using drugs and alcohol through his late teens and early twenties. This lead to arrests for petty crime as he stole to support his drug habit. He ended up on remand in prison.
Hating himself, he knew he had to change his life. He applied to see a CARAT worker. His CARAT worker discussed his history and his needs and helped him look at the options that were available to him.
He completed CARAT Crack Awareness and Relapse Prevention Groups and received some acupuncture to help him fight withdrawal.
His CARAT worker then helped him to obtain a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement - an order from the court which states that an offender must attend residential rehab.