The Effectiveness of Incarceration-Based Drug Treatment on Criminal Behavior: A Systematic Review

Many, if not most, incarcerated offenders have substance abuse problems. Without effective treatment, these substance-abusing offenders are likely to persist in non-drug offending. The period of incarceration offers an opportunity to intervene in the cycle of drug abuse and crime. Although many types of incarceration-based drug treatment programs are available (e.g., therapeutic communities and group counseling), the effectiveness of these programs is unclear. The objective of this research synthesis is to systematically review quasi-experimental and experimental (RCT) evaluations of the effectiveness of incarceration-based drug treatment programs in reducing post-release recidivism and drug relapse. A secondary objective of this synthesis is to examine variation in effectiveness by programmatic, sample, and methodological features. In this update of the original 2006 review (see Mitchell, Wilson, and MacKenzie, 2006), studies made available since the original review were included in an effort to keep current with emerging research. This synthesis of evaluations of incarceration-based drug treatment programs found that such programs are modestly effective in reducing recidivism. These findings most strongly support the effectiveness of therapeutic communities, as these programs produced relatively consistent reductions in recidivism and drug use. Both counseling and incarceration-based narcotic maintenance programs had mixed effects. Counseling programs were associated with reductions in recidivism but not drug use; whereas, incarceration-based narcotic maintenance programs were associated with reductions in drug use but not recidivism. Note that our findings regarding the effectiveness of incarceration-based narcotic maintenance programs differ from a larger review of community-based narcotic maintenance programs (see Egli, Pina, Christensen, Aebi, and Killias, 2009). Finally, boot camp programs for drug offenders had negligible effects on both recidivism and drug use

Correctional Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Communities: Reducing Recidivism Through Behavior Change (Routledge Innovations in Corrections)

Drawing on original research on the effectiveness of a therapeutic community (TC) in reducing recidivism among juvenile male offenders, Correctional Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Communities: Reducing Recidivism Through Behavior Change provides a comprehensive review of the current state of drug treatment for the offending population, especially the link between juvenile offending and substance abuse. The book assesses the factors predicting successful completion of treatment as well as the methodological limitation of previous TC program reviews, and suggests policy implication and routes for future research. Using improvements such as multiple outcome criteria, long-term follow-up, matching groups on risk and needs, and the employment of a standardized instrument to measure program quality, Correctional Rehabilitation assesses the degree to which participation in the TC affects antisocial attitudes and reduces delinquency. Readers will explore how TCs can be designed to influence adolescent drug offenders and ultimately reduce recidivism. This book is essential reading for students, researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders focusing on the development of treatment programs.https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1145/thumbnail.jp

Ohio RSAT outcome evaluation summary report

Title from title screen (viewed Aug. 26, 2004).; "This study was funded by a grant (#99-RT-VX-K025) from the National Institute of Justice."; "August 2002."; Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-45).; Electronic text (pdf, 111 p.).; Harvested from the web on 8/27/0

MonDay Community Correctional Institution, RSAT outcome evaluation

Title from title screen (viewed Aug. 26, 2004).; "This study was funded by a grant (#99-RT-VX-K025) from the National Institute of Justice."; "September 2002."; Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-75).; Electronic text (pdf, 135 p.).; Harvested from the web on 8/26/0

Mohican Youth Center, RSAT outcome evaluation

Title from title screen (viewed Aug. 26, 2004).; "This study was funded by a grant (#99-RT-VX-K025) from the National Institute of Justice."; "September 2002."; Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-68).; Electronic text (pdf, 119 p.).; Harvested from the web on 8/26/0

Public Support For Faith-Based Correctional Programs: Should Sacred Places Serve Civic Purposes?

In light of President Bush\u27s enthusiastic support and numerous initiatives, there is a growing call to fund faith-based social service programs, including those focused on juvenile and adult offenders. These programs are controversial because they seek to reconfigure the line separating church and state. Based on a national 2001 survey of 327 respondents, we assessed public support for this policy initiative. Themajor findings were: (1) the respondents were divided evenly on whether the government should fund faith-based correctional programs; (2) a clear majority opposed having a religious content to the programs; (3) most opposed discrimination on religious grounds in the hiring of program staff; (4) a clear majority favored funding all religious groups as opposed to only Christian churches and (5) the respondents did not view faith-based programs asmore, or less, effective than traditional correctional rehabilitation programs. The study also explored the policy implications of these findings. © 2007 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved