Commissioner: Timothy C. Ward

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

More than 2,500 Graduates

FORSYTH, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Corrections, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program, which is based on the Therapeutic Community Model offering evidence-based cognitive-behavioral curriculum, gives offenders an opportunity to live life free of addiction.  With more than 2,500 graduates, the RSAT Program completion rate increased by 6 percent over the past three fiscal years.

The RSAT program targets high-risk, high-needs offenders with a history of substance abuse as a crime-producing behavior leading to correctional supervision.  For more than 10 years, the nine-month RSAT program has helped offenders return to society as law abiding, self-supporting, pro-social citizens.  

“I’m glad to see more and more offenders benefitting from the RSAT program,” said Timothy C. Ward, interim Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections. “This is an important step for offenders and it increases the likelihood they will prosper once released back into society.”

During the course, participants are placed in a residential therapeutic treatment community comprised of peer groups and counselors. Under the authority and supervision of staff, the community is responsible for helping offenders work together. RSAT incorporates process and psychoeducational groups, individual counseling, work details and vocational education.

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.