Transferring the Principles of Effective Treatment into a “Real World” Prison Setting

Abstract

The principles of risk, need, and responsivity have been empirically linked to the effectiveness of treatment to reduce reoffending, but the transference of these principles to the inside of prison walls is difficult. Results from a sample of 620 incarcerated male offenders-482 who received either a 5-week, 10-week, or 15-week prison-based treatment program and 138 untreated comparison offenders-found that treatment significantly reduced recidivism (odds ratio of .56; effect size r of .10) and that the amount of treatment (e.g., "dosage") played a significant role (odds ratios between .92 and .95 per week of treatment; adjusted effect size r of .01 and .02). These results indicate that prison-based treatment can be effective in reducing recidivism, that dosage plays a mediating role, and that there may be minimum levels of treatment required to reduce recidivism that is dependent on the level of an offender's risk and need.A considerable body of evidence has accumulated regarding the effectiveness of correctional treatment to reduce recidivism. Evidence suggests that effective correctional treatment programs follow a

Treating offenders with mental illness: A research synthesis.

“…In addition, services should be intensive in nature requiring at least a few months' participation (Gendreau, 1996) as increased treatment dosage results in reduced recidivism (Bourgon & Armstrong, 2005;Wormith & Olver, 2002). Structured interventions result in more positive outcomes (Leak, 1980;Morgan & Flora, 2002), as does the use of homework (Morgan & Flora, 2002) which helps offenders over-learn information and extend learning to the offenders' real world (Morgan, Kroner, & Mills, 2006).…”

Le traitement correctionnel fondé sur des données probantes : une recension

“…De la même façon, un traitement insuffisant ne changera en rien les taux de récidive chez les délinquants à risque élevé. À titre d'illustration, rappelons que dans leur étude portant sur le traitement de 482 délinquants incarcérés, Bourgon et Armstrong (2005) trouvent que chez les délinquants à haut risque qui ont bénéfi-cié d'au moins 300 heures de traitement, les taux de récidive sont significativement moindres (38,3 %) que ceux observés auprès des délinquants qui présentent des risques comparables mais n'ont reçu que 100 heures de traitement (62 %).…”

Preparing Inmates for Community Re-Entry: An Employment Preparation Intervention

“…A great deal of literature exists that supports the use of cognitive and cognitive behavioral techniques with incarcerated populations (Andrews et aI., 1990;Bourgon, & Armstrong, 2005;Gendreau, 1995Gendreau, , 1996Inciardi, Martin, & Butzin, 2004;Wilson, Bouffard, & MacKenzie, 2005). Researchers have found many inmates experience cognitive deficits, or deficits in problem-solving ability and interpersonal skills (Bloom, 2006;Chartrand & Rose, 1996;Ross & Fabiano, 1980;Ross, Fabiano, & Ewles, 1988).…”

“…Key components include cognitive behavioral interventions, modeling of prosocial skills and behaviors, and adhering to the responsivity principle in that the intervention teaches new prosocial skills to the offender (Bourgon & Armstrong, 2005;Gendreau, 1995Gendreau, , 1996.…”

“…Programs also need to target the criminogenic needs of ex-offenders, which can be defined as those needs that, when changed, alter the probability of recidivism (Andrews et aI., 1990;Bourgon & Armstrong, 2005;Gendreau, 1995Gendreau, , 1996. Unemployment is a major criminogenic need.…”