Shows that a Rehabilitative Planning Services Unit can provide invaluable assistance to a Public Defender's Office and enhance the quality of representation provided to indigent defendants. Such a unit could prove to be essential, particularly in situations where the defendant is ineligible for Pretrial diversion programs. (Author)

This paper reviews the historical metamorphosis of the concept of treatment and emergence of TASC as a federal strategy for effecting a criminal justice-health care interface to deal with drug abusers. Impact of the TASC program is discussed as well as implications for future efforts. (Author)