My name is Nathan Brewer. I have recently discovered that North Carolina does not offer any substance abuse treatment programs for incarcerated individuals within the NC prison system. My empathy for their situations is personal, as I too, was once a drug addict and spent years in the Department of Corrections in my home state of IN.
I, however, was blessed with the opportunity of getting substance abuse treatment during my incarceration.  The state of Indiana has a program called “Purposeful Incarceration or PI,” which is a partnership between the Indiana court system and the Indiana Department of Corrections. PI is a sentencing recommendation that judges can use in situations where the judge is committed to modifying a sentence upon the offender’s successful completion of substance abuse treatment. This very program made it possible for me to get treatment while serving my prison sentence; learn new prosocial life skills; and ultimately get released years earlier than I would have otherwise. The specific substance abuse program I went through was called “Theraputic Community” or “TC.” They first implemented this program into the prison system in California back in the 1990’s. It has since expanded to other states like Indiana in 2009. And this program helped me change my life and break the cycle of a drug/criminal lifestyle. But the foundation for my change was and always has been Jesus Christ. 

I truly believe this Purposeful Incarceration Initiative would bring much needed reform to the NC prison system and would significantly reduce recidivism rates here. This is a program for incarcerated men and women who have a proven history of substance abuse, which is determined by an assessment. Only qualifying candidates are permitted the opportunity to participate in PI. We should want people to get well and get back on their feet. A strictly punitive approach to criminal offenders is not as effective as a punitive and therapeutic  approach that PI offers. I am starting this petition in an effort to get the necessary support to get this in front of the NC courts and prisons. Your support is greatly appreciated!