Dismas House of St. Louis operates one of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) Residential Reentry Centers (RRCs), helping thousands of individuals successfully transition back into the community. Dismas House is committed to transparency regarding our drug-testing policies, medical protocols, and comprehensive support services.
Rigorous Drug Testing and Mitigation Efforts
Clients in the RRC undergo multiple random 14-panel urine analysis (UA) tests each month. From 2020 through 2025, Dismas House maintained a low 2.63% presumptive positive UA rate. All presumptive positives are sent for laboratory confirmation, with confirmed results referred to the BOP.
This rate is notably strong given the high-risk population served. According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, approximately 88% of individuals entering Missouri prisons report substance misuse in the year preceding incarceration. Historical data from Missouri community supervision programs (such as Jackson County probation testing) has shown positive drug test rates ranging from 11% to 28% in earlier periods. National studies and workforce benchmarks (e.g., Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index, 2020–2024) show general U.S. workforce positivity rates around 4.4% to 5.7%, with justice-involved populations typically experiencing even higher rates of positive screens in community supervision settings. Dismas House of St. Louis results stand out as significantly lower than these typical benchmarks, demonstrating effective mitigation through frequent, comprehensive testing.
Beyond BOP requirements, Dismas House utilizes a specialized contractor for random, unannounced full-building inspections with drug-sniffing dogs, including during late nights and early mornings. This proactive approach helps maintain a drug-free environment.
Medical Emergency Response Protocols
All RRC staff are first aid certified. In cases of an unresponsive client with a pulse, staff follow BOP and medical-control protocols: first performing a sternum rub, then administering Narcan if needed as a precautionary lifesaving step. This step does not presume the condition is drug related. Additional lifesaving measures continue per established policies.