How SCRAM Systems Helped Caddo Parish Create an Effective Alternative to Incarceration 

Facing Louisiana's highest-in-the-nation incarceration rate and growing jail overcrowding, Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart and Chief Deputy District Attorney Wilbert Pryor developed the Pretrial Diversion Program to offer lower-risk defendants a path to comprehensive rehabilitation. The program needed a reliable method to ensure defendants with alcohol misuse issues remained accountable throughout their treatment. 

SCRAM Systems provided the alcohol monitoring technology that became central to the program's success. By implementing SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM CAM) and SCRAM Remote Breath, the program gained the ability to verify sobriety around the clock. This 24/7 monitoring capability, combined with counseling and treatment services, helps defendants identify and address their substance abuse issues while adhering to program conditions. 

The results speak for themselves: nearly 90% of clients successfully complete the program, with less than 1% of Remote Breath tests failed and 92% of tests completed and passed on schedule. The technology has proven so effective that some clients have requested to continue wearing SCRAM CAM beyond their required monitoring period. 

Challenges 

Highest Incarceration Rate in the Nation 

According to statistics from the Louisiana Department of Corrections and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the United States. Jail overcrowding has become a serious issue across the state, straining local resources and court systems. 

Budget Shortfalls and Dwindling Public Resources 

Local court systems and communities face significant financial constraints. Budget shortfalls limit the ability to expand traditional incarceration facilities while still maintaining public safety and effective supervision of offenders. 

No Method to Verify Sobriety 

Prior to implementing alcohol monitoring technology, the Pretrial Diversion Program lacked a reliable method to ensure clients were not drinking. Without objective verification, the program could not effectively hold defendants accountable for their sobriety requirements. 

Defendants Who Don't Recognize Their Alcohol Problem 

Many clients entering the pretrial diversion program do not believe they have an alcohol problem. The program needed a way to help defendants identify and address their substance abuse issues while providing objective evidence of their drinking behavior. 

Program Goals 

Offer Defendants a Second Chance 

Provide lower-risk defendants the opportunity to participate in comprehensive rehabilitation rather than face incarceration. A criminal record results in hard consequences, affecting an offender's ability to find housing, earn credit, get a job, and support a family. 

Hold Defendants Accountable 

Create a program rigorous enough that defendants understand the seriousness of their offense while enabling them to demonstrate genuine remorse and commitment to change. 

Reduce the Chance of Repeat Offenses 

Address the motivations behind a defendant's offense and alcohol issues, allowing defendants to move past their criminal history and reducing the likelihood they will reoffend. 

The Solution: SCRAM Alcohol Monitoring Technology 

Caddo Parish implemented a combination of SCRAM CAM and SCRAM Remote Breath to provide comprehensive alcohol monitoring for defendants in the Pretrial Diversion Program. About half of the approximately 40 clients in the program each month are monitored with SCRAM technology, with a minimum requirement of 90 days on the bracelet. 

CONTINUOUS ALCOHOL MONITORING 

SCRAM CAM provides 24/7 transdermal alcohol testing, enabling the program to monitor clients around the clock. The continuous monitoring, combined with counseling, helps clients identify and address their substance abuse issues while ensuring they adhere to the conditions of the diversion program. 

REMOTE ALCOHOL BREATH TESTING 

SCRAM Remote Breath serves defendants who are unable to wear SCRAM CAM. These clients are required to test an average of 4 to 5 times each day, providing frequent verification of sobriety throughout their participation in the program. 

FLEXIBLE MONITORING APPROACH 

The program evaluates each client's total success rather than focusing on single incidents. If a client is doing well overall but commits a violation, their time on alcohol monitoring is typically extended rather than resulting in automatic dismissal. This approach supports behavior change while maintaining accountability. 

Results 

The Caddo Parish District Attorney's Pretrial Diversion Program has achieved significant positive outcomes through its implementation of SCRAM alcohol monitoring technology: 

• Nearly 500 participants served annually through the program 
• Over 210 participants monitored with SCRAM technology since January 2017 
• 14,100+ total days of alcohol monitoring completed 
• Nearly 90% of clients successfully complete the program 
• Less than 1% of Remote Breath tests failed 
• 92% of Remote Breath tests completed and passed on schedule 
• Clients demonstrating genuine behavior change, with one participant requesting to continue wearing SCRAM CAM beyond his required treatment period because it helped him maintain sobriety 

The program helps defendants understand the impact of their actions through requirements including court fees and restitution, education goals such as obtaining a GED, MADD victim impact panels, counseling and behavior classes, and monthly reporting. By combining these comprehensive rehabilitation elements with reliable alcohol monitoring technology, Caddo Parish has created an effective alternative to incarceration that serves both defendants and the community. 

Note: Specific cost savings data was not available in the source material for this case study.