Rod Blagojevich Asks For RDAP Program in Prison

By Jeralyn  -  Wed Dec 14, 2011

The judge presiding over Rod Blagojevich's criminal case has agreed to recommend the Bureau of Prisons admit him to RDAP - the residential drug and alcohol program that allows inmates who successfully complete it to cut up to a year off their prison terms.

The news is reporting he asked for drug treatment even though Blago's attorneys gave no reason for the request. Also the reports state Team Blago asked he be placed in the program when he starts his sentence.

First of all, the program is for drug and/or alcohol treatment, so there's no reason to assume the request was based on drug use.

Second, BOP doesn't place inmates in the program at the beginning of their term when they have a long sentence like Blago. BOP policy is that an inmate is ordinarily eligible to begin an RDAP program when he or she is within 24 months of release. (2009 Program Statement 5330.11.)

The details of Blago's need for substance abuse treatment were most likely contained in his pre-sentence report which is not available to anyone other than the Government, defense and court.

http://www.talkleft.com/