BURLINGTON, Vt. -
A Burlington group that works with at risk youth says it's found a way to keep drug and alcohol offenders from returning to prison.
Four years ago Spectrum Youth and Family Services partnered with the Chittenden County Criminal Court to develop the Rapid Referral Program. It tracked the behavior of drug and alcohol offenders. Spectrum says the results show a dramatic drop in recidivism. According to the multi-year study about 19 percent of participants re-offended compared to 84 percent who received no treatment. The governor says this is a cost saving model that could work in other parts of the state.
