Abstract
This systematic literature review maps the evidence for the effectiveness of the therapeutic community interventions (TCI) in reducing re-arrest, re-incarceration or drug misuse following release from prison, including the extent to which these effects are retained over time. The databases searched for the review included PsychINFO, Medline and Scopus and reference lists from relevant articles published between 2007 and 2014. Only quantitative studies that examined the effectiveness of TCI for a prisoner population with drug dependence at the time of initial incarceration were considered. Fourteen studies were identified for inclusion in the review. Three-quarters of the studies reported TCI were effective in reducing rates of re-incarceration. About 70% of studies that examined follow-up rates of drug misuse relapse found TCI effective in reducing rates of drug misuse amongst participants. TCI participation reduced re-arrests events in 55% of the studies. Results suggest TCI effective in the short-term rather than longer term for reducing rates of re-incarceration among participants, and to a slightly lesser extent, drug misuse relapse.
Highlights
Substance misuse disorders amongst criminal populations are common and hamper the potential for an individual’s successful reintegration into society after their release from prison [1]
The findings from the present analysis suggest therapeutic community intervention (TCI) is effective in reducing re-incarceration and drug misuse relapse as compared to alternate programs
This review has found that re-incarceration was the most effectively reduced outcome measure with both regular TCIs and with modified TCIs, with the vast majority of studies (75%) that examined this measure finding a reduction in re-incarceration rates
Summary
Substance misuse disorders amongst criminal populations are common and hamper the potential for an individual’s successful reintegration into society after their release from prison [1]. Community oriented interventions that break this cycle and treat substance use disorders would lead to lower incidences of reoffending, re-arrest, re-incarceration, and drug misuse [6,7,8,9]. There are apparent public health benefits from ex-offenders not participating in drug misuse networks and maintaining healthy life-styles. Their maintenance of health and wellbeing is a benefit to family and community, directly from safer neighborhoods with reduced crime. This study sought to map the evidence the effectiveness of therapeutic community intervention (TCI) programs in prison populations to prevent occurrences of re-arrest, reoffending, re-incarceration, and drug misuse relapse
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