From April 2004, the throughcare and aftercare parts of the Programme became nationwide elements, phased in across the whole of England and Wales. In England, therefore, all 82 Drug Action Team areas that are not “intensive” are nonetheless actively involved in delivering some of the most important features of the Programme.
The key interventions points within DIP for adults are:
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testing on arrest or charge for certain trigger offences (or any offence where a police officer of Inspector or above believes that specified Class A drug misuse caused or contributed to the commission of the offence and authorises a test)
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required assessment following a positive test – to be carried out by a Criminal Justice Interventions Team (CJIT) drug worker, usually within the custody suite immediately after the test
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voluntary assessment with a CJIT drug worker, in the absence of a positive test but where drug use is a factor in offending behaviour
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conditional cautioning – an alternative to charge aimed at cases where the public interest would be met more effectively by the offender carrying out specific conditions (including a drug rehabilitative condition) rather than being prosecuted
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restriction on bail – to move more drug using offenders into treatment
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working with clients to prepare them for drug-related elements of community sentence such as the Drug Treatment and Testing Order or Drugs Rehabilitation Requirement
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CARATs teams working with clients in prison
Following engagement with the programme, CJITs, in the community, and Counselling, Advice, Referral, Assessment and Throughcare (CARAT) Teams, in prison, then work with their clients and together to ensure continuity of care and retention in appropriate and effective treatment and support.
They are supported in this by the Drug Interventions Record (DIR). This is the key tool for continuity of care and monitoring and research in relation to the Drug Interventions Programme for CJITs and CARATs. It gathers information that CJIT workers will have received during contact and assessment(s). For CARATs teams in prisons, the DIR is also the Drug Misuse Triage Assessment Form, replacing the CARATs Initial Assessment Form. The DIR is transferred between the CJITs and the CARATs teams as the individual to whom it refers moves between the community and prison.
