Outcome Evaluation of a Family-Based Jail Reentry Program for Substance Abusing Offenders

Abstract

Offender reentry programs have proliferated since the passage of the Second Chance Act in 2008. This study examines the effectiveness of one such jail-based reentry program for male inmates diagnosed with substance dependency and who have minor children, the Delaware County (OH) Jail Substance Abuse Treatment program. This program served 34 offenders and their families over 2 years and was based on the Community Reinforcement and Family Training model, a treatment modality for substance abuse involving both operant conditioning and family-based therapy for behavioral modification. Results from a quasi-experimental design indicate that program participants were significantly less likely to be rearrested within 1 year after release relative to a comparison group of similarly situated offenders and more likely to comply with child support orders following release. Findings also revealed the treatment group had significantly more days to failure for those who did recidivate.

Exploring synthetic heroin: Accounts of acetyl fentanyl use from a sample of dually diagnosed drug offenders

“…A mixed methods research design consisting of stepwise process and outcome phases was employed to evaluate two US Bureau of Justice Assistance Second Chance Act substance use treatment initiatives, one for female ( n = 32) and male ( n = 36) offenders dually diagnosed with substance use and mental health disorders and a second treatment program targeting drug‐dependent male offenders experiencing familial instability ( n = 34). Outcome findings from a quasi‐experimental design found these interventions effective in terms of recidivism and relapse reduction among treatment participants relative to matched comparison groups at a year follow up . Of relevance here, outcome analysis was preceded by process evaluation composed of multiple qualitative techniques, including document analysis, observation of treatment sessions, in‐depth interviews with staff and treatment providers and focus group sessions with treatment participants.…”

“…Understanding acetyl fentanyl use from the perspective of users is requisite for informing a tailored public health response, refinement of substance‐specific treatment and development of counselling protocols. The current study reports on the nature of acetyl fentanyl based on data collected within mixed methodological evaluation of two federally sponsored drug treatment initiatives for dually diagnosed offenders implemented in a correctional setting and completed under community corrections supervision .…”

The Effect of Individual Characteristics and Supervision Experiences on the Perceived Quality of the Supervision Relationship

“…Although future research should more closely examine why family support relates to the parole officer relationship, it could be that social support in one context-the family-contributes to, or helps to create, social support in other contexts such as with the parole officer. In any case, these findings provide further support for the need for correctional agencies to promote policies and practices that preserve and foster family relationships such as prison visitation and family-based reentry programs (J. M. Miller et al, 2015).…”

Chinese Female Drug Users’ Experiences and Attitudes With Institutional Drug Treatment

“…In extremely disadvantaged circumstances, drug users easily relapse without appropriate professional support or aftercare services. One U.S. county jail's substance abuse treatment program (J. M. Miller, Miller, & Barnes, 2016) found 34 male offenders had less recidivism and maintained a drug-free lifestyle 1 year after release. The success attributed to the combination of a family-based model in jail and continued in a community behavioral modification reinforcement 1 year upon their release.…”