Assessing the within-person impact of social/behavioral programs, increased supervision, and jail time on polysubstance use during reentry

Abstract

The process of leaving prison, known as reentry, presents a host of challenges to returning individuals. Research documents that substance use is a pressing issue and widespread among the correctional population. A variety of strategies and programs have been used to promote the desistance from substance use; notably, the use of social/behavioral programs, increased supervision, and jail time. Yet, existing research investigating the respective effects of te strategies in relation to one another is relatively underdeveloped. This issue becomes more salient when considering the extent to which supervision models can impact the outcomes and future prospects associated with reentry. Therefore, this study uses four waves of data from the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) to examine the impact of social/behavioral programming, increased supervision, and jail sanctions on polysubstance use during reentry. Further, we use a series of interaction terms to explore any conditioning effects between approaches on substance use across time. Results from longitudinal crossed-lagged dynamic panel models reveal that social/ behavioral programs contribute to within-person decreases in polysubstance use across time while enhanced monitoring and jail-time contribute to within-person increases in polysubstance use. Interactions indicate these programs exert independent, and not interactive, effects on polysubstance use post-release.

Towards more accurate classification of risk of arrest among offenders on community supervision: An application of machine learning versus logistic regression

“…In ascending order of effect size, marijuana, cocaine and heroin dependence confer higher odds of arrest while on supervision. While the use and dependence of singular substances is associated with rearrest, the use of substances is even more important to consider when recognising that many correctional clients are polysubstance users (Bunting et al., 2020; Mowen et al., 2018; Vaughn et al., 2014). Consequently, multiple drug dependence has a synergistic effect that strongly increases the liability for continued antisocial conduct.…”

A Comparison of Marijuana Use Across Different Levels of Justice-Involved Populations

“…Given the emphasis on reentry, there is more supervision and programs available for those on parole (Travis & Stacey, 2010). A small body of research does suggest that for adults on parole, increased supervision and access to social/behavioral programs may reduce substance use post-incarceration and reduce the likelihood of reentry (Bahr et al, 2012; Lowenkamp, Flores, Holsinger, Makario, & Latessa, 2010; Mowen et al, 2018).…”

Do Negative Emotions Matter? Paths From Victimization to Cyber and Traditional Bullying From a General Strain Theory Perspective

“…Additionally, considering the strong impacts of prior delinquency on subsequent delinquent behavior (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1987; Matsueda, 1986), inclusion of the previous dependent outcome in the analysis enabled rigorous testing, which is not available in similar analytic techniques such as mixed- and fixed-effects modeling (Allison et al, 2017; Williams et al, 2018). Such benefits of cross-lagged dynamic panel models lead to examine critical questions in criminological studies (e.g., Boman & Mowen, 2018; Mowen et al, 2018).…”