Are There Lockdown Rehab Centers, Where You Can’t Leave?

Rehab centers offer people struggling with addiction a chance to break free from drugs and alcohol and build a healthier future. Most people choose to enter treatment on their own terms, working with counselors and medical professionals to overcome their dependence. However, not all rehab is voluntary. In some situations, people are required by law to attend treatment programs where they cannot leave until they complete the program or meet certain requirements.

Court-ordered addiction treatment and lockdown rehab facilities are becoming more common across the country. These secured programs are typically used when someone’s addiction has led to legal trouble, poses a danger to themselves or others, or when previous treatment attempts have failed. While the idea of mandatory treatment can feel scary or restrictive, it’s important to understand that voluntary treatment, where you make the choice to get help on your own, is almost always the better option.

Are There Lockdown Rehab Centers?

Regular rehab centers are not like jails. They can’t physically lock you inside or force you to stay. However, when a judge orders someone to complete treatment instead of serving jail time, leaving early has serious consequences. If you walk out of a court-ordered treatment program before finishing it, you’ll likely have to serve the original jail sentence that the rehab was supposed to replace. So while the facility itself might not have locked doors or security guards preventing you from leaving, the legal system creates a situation where leaving isn’t really an option.

Types Of Compulsory Drug Treatment

There are a couple of different types of compulsory treatment that you may experience if you refuse to seek treatment yourself.

Court-Ordered Substance Use Treatment

If people with substance use disorders are facing criminal charges for possession, drug trafficking, or related crimes such as stealing, they could be ordered to attend a drug rehab program. This often comes as a relief to the people facing charges or their families, because court-ordered treatment usually replaces or reduces fines, community service, or jail time.

Court-ordered addiction treatment as a strategy for homelessness and repeat drug crime offenders is on the rise. President Joe Biden advocated it in 2020. In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom of California also advocated for mandatory treatment.

Involuntary Commitments

In 37 states, there are laws that enable families or medical professionals to petition courts to have a family member or patient committed to involuntary treatment. In some states, these commitments can last up to a year or as little as a few days. In some states families or law enforcement and medical professionals can petition a treatment facility directly without a court order. In the states that allow this, involuntary commitments have been on the rise.

Addiction Treatment Options In Jail

There is another kind of compulsory treatment. This compulsory treatment occurs in jail under the management of government organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The BOP claims that there is reduced relapse, criminality, recidivism, and inmate misconduct as a result of their treatment programs. However, some state prison systems do not advocate compulsory treatment.

How Long Does Court-Ordered Rehab Last?

The duration of rehab typically depends on the type of care offered at the facility. Court-ordered programs can last 30, 60, or 90 days. Conversely, there are substance abuse treatment facilities that last between six months and a year. Long-term addiction treatment can be beneficial for people facing a severe substance use disorder or who need time to build new habits and life skills so they don’t return to criminal behavior.

Again, substance abuse treatment is not going to look the same for everyone. A thirty-day rehab may not work for a person with severe addiction. A program that mandates attendance and restricts access to anything outside of rehab may be what some people need.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff