Harris County Jail New Choices

Houston, Texas | See other Texas rehab reviews

1200 Baker St.
Houston, Texas 77002

New Choices is a Substance Abuse Program located within the Harris County Jail.

New Choices is partially funded by the Office of the Governor. The program currently accepts both men and women, but your participation in the program usually has to be approved by the judge.

The program lasts a minimum of 180 days (and a maximum of 365 days). This means that if you are doing a much shorter sentence you probably want to look for a different program which doesn't require you stay in jail extra time (of course, if your addiction is severe maybe this is an attractive option to you).

Interviews from Sweetness, Mia, Tiffanie, Tim, Lindsay, Kim, Jebroni, Teresa, Ms Dar
Why did you choose this facility?
Sweetness: I had no other choice I was goin to jail
Mia: court order
Tiffanie: Court Order
Tim: court order
Lindsay: Court Order
Kim: Court Order
Jebroni: I was forced to go to this rehab after I caught a prob violation (had no idea until the day they took me in, did not get a chance to tell my job, sort out family/living situations).
Teresa: court ordered
Ms Dar: Court ordered

Tell us about the experience - was it positive or negative?
Sweetness: Harris County Jail is Jail true but its the young officers all of them that make jail bad. Jail is suppose to be a rehab not a torcher center
Mia: It was terrible in the beginning because I tried to fight it for such a long time. Once the counselors gave me the tools I needed I realized the oppertunity in front of me. It was my choice to implement them in my everyday life. If it wasn't for the amount of time I spent and the choice to be brutally honest about my past and the person I had become, I wouldn't be here today.
Tiffanie: It was extremely negative. All of the rules and principles that were the underlying part of the program were broken constantly by the inmates who would break every rule given to us in the New Choices Handbook. The program was built around the 12 step program of AA, with counselors contributing additional support and guidance and material for the inmates. The problem was that it did not take into account that many of us had issues that were not being dealt with, i.e. death. If you "worked the program" to its' fullest, you were supposed to come out on the other side with the tools you could utilize to enable yourself to go back into society and be able to change the way you dealt with your drug habit, i.e. no longer making those choices to do drugs. It ended up being cultish, contradictory to its' own teaching process by way of how all of the inmates acted after the counselors were gone. The counselors had some inmates on the inside who would transfer information to them because the counselors could not be there often, and talking to them one on one was impossible. The fear, paranoia, extortion by other inmates, stealing, physical attacks, sex going on at night, and so many other negative emotions did not contribute to any type of positive rehabilitative program. A cookie cutter program designed to scare, intimidate, demoralize, belittle, punish, etc. does not work for me. I definitely knew I had a problem, I was and am not a self-pitying person and my problems were rooted in many areas that could not be addressed by this program, only every problem I had was exacerbated by the way I was treated there.
Tim: it was only positive when the counselors were present
Lindsay: Very Positive! Being in a incarcerated facility, I had no option of leaving and if given that option, I would have most likely left. Ms. Beverly touched me in so many ways. Her experience and her personal life experiences is what helped change my life.
Kim: New Choices damaged me to a point that exceeded the amount of damage that I sustained prior to being there. Inmates are encouraged to turn each other in. B* and Ms. M* pit people against each other in an effort to create problems. When there are not problems, one is told that they are in non-compliance and they will be violated (New Choices is often a condition of probation, and failure to abide by the rules dictates the sentence that was probated according to the "counselors") I am an alcoholic. There is no denying that. I was there for my 2nd DWI. When I mentioned that I was having a difficult time relating with the other inmates, I was told that if I did not learn I would be sent to my prison sentence. That was by B*. I was looking for guidance since I hadnever seen anything like what the ladies were describing. They did not do anything but read the handouts (all of which I have). This is a program that works on paper, but with the wrong staff just simply does not work. Ms. P*-truly cares and wants to make a difference Ms. B*-Bitter, lies (said that she does not smoke and since I do not and I could smell smoke on her afte breaks). Ms. M*-Is still bitter for her ex husband causing problems in her life.
Jebroni: Negative! The "program" is a JOKE.
Teresa: Very negative.
Ms Dar: Some of inmates were nice most of them were faking til they made and the ones who were leaving said they are going back to drugs

Do you feel the program was successful?
Sweetness: No
Mia: absolutely.
Tiffanie: Not at all. I was released over a year ago after being in the program for 3 months (I was kicked out because they said I did not do my homework, but in reality, I had been sexually assaulted by another inmate). I have remained out of jail and drug free since December, 2007. This was not due to the program, but to the counseling and therapy I received after being released from jail. I had post traumatic stress syndrome from what went on in there and suffered terrible nightmares. People who were "successful" and graduated from this program are now in prison or jail, never learning anything (I know of 5 offhand).
Tim: yes
Lindsay: Absolutely. Of course you have to be at a point in your life where you are willing and ready to change and the steps given will make you successful in staying sober.
Kim: The only role that the program served was to give me to throw my sucess AT. Like an " I told you so".
Jebroni: No; the program is like a f*ing cult!! The ONLY benefit from being put through this program is being introduced to AA and the 12 Steps. The curriculum is all the exact same paperwork that I have worked through at other treatment facilities. And as for the honesty aspect, do not even try being remotely honest about your personal opinons or how you are feeling or what bothers you. Even when the counselors insist that there are "no wrong answers", they WILL get in your face in front of the other inmates and put your business out there! They also will take you out the program if they feel like you aren't suitable for "this kind of treatment" or if they "feel you are jeapordizing other inmates' sobriety" (aka speak your mind during group, don't give them the answer they want to hear when they ask a loaded question, do not get along with inmates that are their favorites) or if they feel like you "aren't taking the prog seriously". All of those reasons are up to the counselors' judgment, so if you come in and they get a bad impression about you, you are fucked bc you will have to kiss their ass for a while to keep from them hounding you. The counselors do not realize the extent of how the inmates bully, manipulate, put down, and blackmail each other. If they do, they don't give 2 shits about it.
Teresa: I don't feel it was successful. If the counselors didn't like you they treated you very ugly or would through you out. I think it was all about money for them.
Ms Dar: NO i got out befor they could damage me more than i was. the program was more about alcoholism than drug addiction.

What advice would you give somebody considering going to this facility?
Sweetness: Be careful
Mia: It is REALLY tough in the beginning, but once you stop looking at yourself as a victim and take responsibility for why you are at your rock bottom, then you can truly start over. Everyday there are obstacles and conflict, but it is up to you to find peace within yourself.
Tiffanie: I would say I feel very sorry for them, and that they should try to do the best that they can, with an open mind. You are in the prison system, remember, and just like all of Harris County Jail, it's an entirely corrupt operation.
Tim: depends, this facility is not recommended for hard-core addicts
Lindsay: This facility is not one that someone normally would consider since it is mandated by the court but if it was an option, I would say go for it and give it all your effort!
Kim: Do not.
Jebroni: This program will f* with your head, mostly because the counselors do not follow through with what they say. They discipline at their convenience and based on how much they like that inmate. So when you first get in, make a good first impression because that will definitely help. Also, just tell em what they want to hear during group discussions and keep your opinions to yourself for the most part bc those counselors remember everything and use that shit against you whenever they wanna put you in your place as a crackhead junkie who isn't near as smart as them bc hey, you're in orange and they aren't right?
Teresa: Watch out at the end of the month they threw out people to get new ones in. Guess they get paid upon entry. The counselors were horrible and only attempted to help a chosen few. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!
Ms Dar: DO NOT CONSIDER THIS PLACE. ITS NOT REHAB