Not long ago, I happened to overhear a conversation between a middle-aged guy and one of his acquaintances.  The guy, who was being housed at a work-release facility, was relating something an instructor had said during a group meeting:  "If you are working a program, are you still a criminal?"  This particular instructor evidently did not want anyone to answer in the affirmative;  instead, he wanted to hear they found something so magical and life-changing about their 'programs' that it relieved them from needing to admit any responsibility for their actions.  

A little further back, I first heard about the concept of "drug courts."  Individuals who had committed crimes related to illegal drugs or alcohol abuse were offered an option instead of incarceration:  attend 12-Step meetings, and submit to random drug testing.  In most cases, this option does not work.   First, an individual must present "proof" of having attended meetings.  This proof can be obtained by simply asking someone to sign the paper.  As individuals are not monitored to ensure they actually remain at a meeting, they often do not.

 Second, most who use illegal drugs and/or abuse alcohol are already well-versed in how to get around anything;  they are not deterred from using drugs or drinking simply because of random testing.  They already know where and how to purchase products, or to use normal products one can find in any grocery store, to make a urine test appear "clean."   While not being made to accept responsibility may be bad enough, there is an even worse consequence to the non-incarceration option:  it furthers an individual's belief that whatever he does or wishes to do is based only on what he can "get away" with.  This is not the message anyone should be given--  and especially not young people who might actually have a chance of rehabilitation.