Amata Welcomes DOJ Rehabilitation Grant

Press Release

Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is welcoming a grant of $122,253 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to the American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency for rehabilitation and treatment efforts.

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program assists governments to develop and implement substance abuse treatment programs in correctional and detention facilities, and to create and maintain community-based aftercare services for offenders.

"Congratulations once again to CJPA Director Mariana Timu-Faiai and her hard-working staff, for applying and qualifying for these federal funds," Amata said. "I'm happy to see this support for efforts to help people we care about come back from drug addiction and illegal behavior, so they can see a better way forward in life."

The goal of the RSAT Program is to break the cycle of drugs and violence by reducing the demand, use, and trafficking of illegal drugs. RSAT enhances the capability of local government to provide residential substance abuse treatment for incarcerated inmates; prepares offenders for their reintegration into the communities from which they came by incorporating reentry planning activities into treatment programs; and assists offenders and their communities through the reentry process, including the delivery of community-based treatment and other broad-based aftercare services.

American Samoa can use the RSAT funds for three types of programs: residential, jail-based, and aftercare.

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