Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) Programs - Guidelines for Implementing and Operating - Program Brief

Sep 14, 2026

Program brief outlining the purpose and operating approach of Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) programs within the U.S. justice and treatment systems. It describes how TASC connects criminal justice sanctions with therapeutic drug treatment processes to interrupt repeat offenders’ substance use and related criminality. The brief explains program philosophy, mission, and critical elements needed to manage an effective TASC program. It also previews funding objectives, performance standards, and key resources for implementation support.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages29

Reading Time1 h 13 min

AccessFree to download

The TASC Bridge

Justice System

Treatment System

TASC Mission and Philosophy

The Development and Success of TASC

Current Block Grant Funding Objectives and Requirements

Critical Program Elements and Performance Standards

References and Resources for Additional Assistance

Selected Bibliography

Technical Assistance and Training Cooperative Agreement

A Glossary of TASC Terms

National TASC Consortium Directory

U.S.Department of JusticeOffice of Justice Programs - Treatment Alternativesto Street CrimeTASC Programs Bureau ofJusticeAssistance 110664 U.S.Department of Justice National Institute of Justice This document has been reproduced exactly as received from theperson or organization originatng it.Points of view or opinions statedin this document are those of the authors and do not necessarilyrepresent the official position or policies of the National Institute ofJustice. Permission to reproduce this copyrighted material has beengranted by Public Domain/BJA/OJP/DO.L to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service(NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS systerm requires permis-sion of the copyright owner APR 191988 A农哮罪⑩NS 11066y Program Brief that are eligible forCriminal Justice Block Grant SupportAdministered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance,Office of Justice Programs,U.S.Department of Justice Bureau ofJusticeAssistance # NC3R S Guidelines for Implementing and Operating Treatment Alternativesto Street CrimeTASC Programs January 1988 U.S.Department of JusticeEdwin Meese Ⅲ Offce of Justice ProgramsRichard B.Abell Bureau of Justice AssistanceeGeorge A.Luciano Charles P.Smith Curtis H.Straub Ⅱ Eugene H.Dzikiewicz James C.Swain William F.Powers U.S.Department of JusticeOffice of Justice ProgramsBureau of Justice Assistance Attorney General Assistant Attorney General Director Deputy Director Director,Policy Developmentand Management DivisionDirector,State and LocalAssistance DivisionDirector,DiscretionaryGrant Program DivisionDirector,Special ProgramsDivision Prepared under cooperative agreement number 86-SA-CX-KO26by the National Association of State Alcohol andDrug Abuse Directors. Bureau of Justice Assistance 633 Indiana Avenue,N.W.,Washington,DC.20531(202)272-6838 | The Asistant Attormey General,Office of Justice Programs,coordinates the criminal and juvenile justice activities of the following program
Offices and Bureaus:National Institute of Justice,Bureau of Justice Statistics,Bureau of Justice Assistance,Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention,and Office for Victims of Crime. | | --- | | | Washington,D.C.20531 Office of the Director I am pleased to present to you this Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime(TASC)program brief.I hope that this document provides you with theinformation you need to begin a TASC program in your community,or to expandand improve a case management program that you already have. The TASC program is intended to interrupt the persistent drug-using behaviorof offenders by linking the sanctions of the criminal justice system to thetherapeutic processes of drug treatment programs. We know that repeatoffenders tend also to have drug and alcohol problems.We also know that thecontinuing criminality of these people can be interrupted,curtailed and,inmany cases,stopped. TASC bridges the gap between the justice system and the treatment community bymaking necessary services available to drug dependent offenders who wouldotherwise continue to move in and out of the justice system. TASC also servesas a reminder of the justice system³s oversight of the offender while thatindividual is in treatment. This program brief is the result of extensive review and analysis of TASCprograms by the experts. We asked what works,and how does it work? Ibelieve this document presents the elements critical to managing an effectiveTASC program. Our work continues. Subsequent editions of this program brief wil¹ incorporate information on performance standards and measuring outcomes. And,BJA will continue to make training and technical assistance available to Stateand local governments interested in establishing a TASC program or inimproving an existing program. Sincerely, George A Luciano,Director Table ot Contents Page The TASC Bridge ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1

FAQs

What is the primary purpose of the TASC program brief?

It presents the critical elements needed to manage an effective Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) program, including mission, philosophy, and key operational components.

How does TASC connect the justice system with treatment services?

TASC bridges the gap by linking criminal justice sanctions with therapeutic processes through access to community-based treatment for drug-dependent offenders.

When were TASC programs initiated and what problem do they address?

TASC programs were initiated in 1972 in response to recognized links between substance abuse and criminal behavior, aiming to interrupt persistent drug-using conduct associated with repeat offending.

Sep 14, 2026

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