Background-The Therapeutic Community (TC) is a common treatment modality for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders. TCs rely on peer group processes to promote lasting behavioral and identity change, yet prior research has not adequately tested the peer influence mechanisms underlying the theoretical model. This study applied dynamic network analysis to estimate peer influence processes central to TC philosophy. Methods-A stochastic actor-oriented model (SAOM) was applied to ten months of social network data collected from prisoner surveys within a TC unit (N=62) in a medium-security Pennsylvania prison. Respondents (N=177, 84% of unit) completed at least one prison survey and provided network and community role model nominations. Results-Although residents' levels of treatment engagement were significantly correlated with their nominated peers, estimates of peer influence for treatment engagement were non-significant in longitudinal network models. Nor were estimates of peer influence significantly greater for peers perceived as community role models. Rather, inmates connected with peers who were of similar treatment engagement as themselves (i.e., a peer selection process), and the latter primarily resulted from racial homophily in the TC social network. Conclusions-Inconsistent with the desired treatment model, treatment engagement diffusion was not evident in the sampled TC. Results suggested that highly-engaged residents clustered together at the center of the TC's social structure but had little impact on less-engaged and
Substance use disorders are common among justice-involved populations, the majority of whom are under community supervision in the form of probation. Substance involvement can amplify the challenges of complying with requirements of probation supervision, violations of which can lead to incarceration. In this study, we assess the role of substance involvement in violations of probation conditions across 47 counties representing 70% of individuals sentenced to probation in the state of Pennsylvania. We also consider the role of court-ordered treatment. We conclude by estimating the consequences of resentencing for substance-involved individuals in Pennsylvania (in incarceration and supervision days). Results suggest that individuals who are substance-involved are at greater risk of technical violations. However, treatment may reduce some negative outcomes for substance-involved individuals. Court-ordered treatment was associated with a reduction in the likelihood of being resentenced for a new offense relative to individuals who were substance-involved but not ordered to treatment.
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