Differences In Recidivism Rates Research Articles

Explaining Male Sex Offender Recidivism: Accounting for Differences in Correctional Supervision.

Contrary to public opinion, empirical studies have consistently shown that persons convicted of a sexual offense (PCSO) are less likely to recidivate with a general offense. While researchers often point toward the surreptitiousness of sexual offending to explain low rates of recidivism, this paper tests a novel explanation: SOs recidivate at lower rates than persons convicted of a non-sexual offense (PCNSO) because they are more often revoked to prison before they are able to commit a new crime, perhaps owing to more restrictive post-release supervision guidelines. Using a sample of 196,468 unique male releases, the difference in general and sexual recidivism between PCSO (n = 29,420) and PCNSO was assessed through survival analyses (Cox regression models). Results demonstrated that PCSO were significantly less likely to be reconvicted for a general crime, but more likely for a sex offense. They were also more likely to be reincarcerated due to a revocation without a new sentence. Accounting for revocations, the difference in reconviction risk lessens between the groups but does not disappear. This analysis provides evidence that differences in community supervision are contributing to the difference in recidivism rates between PCSO and PCNSO. Implications and future research are discussed.

Psychiatric and Substance-Related Problems Predict Recidivism for First-Time Justice-Involved Youth.

Justice-involved youth with clinically significant co-occurring psychiatric and substance-related problems are at increased risk for recidivism. Less is known about how psychiatric symptoms (i.e., internalizing and externalizing) and substance-related problems (i.e., alcohol and cannabis) interact to predict recidivism, especially at first court contact. Among 361 first-time justice-involved youth aged 12 to 18, we used nested multivariate negative binomial regression models to examine the association between psychiatric symptoms, substance-related problems and 24-month recidivism while accounting for demographic and legal covariates. Clinically significant externalizing symptoms and alcohol-related problems predicted recidivism. Moderation analyses revealed that alcohol-related problems drove recidivism for youth without clinically significant psychiatric symptoms and externalizing symptoms predicted recidivism, regardless of alcohol-related problems. After accounting for other predictors, Latinx, Black non-Latinx, and multiracial non-Latinx youth were more likely to recidivate at follow-up than White non-Latinx youth. Systematic screening, referral, and linkage to treatment for psychiatric and substance-related problems are needed to reduce recidivism risk among first-time justice-involved youth. Differences in recidivism rates by race/ethnicity not attributable to behavioral health needs suggest it is imperative to concurrently deploy large-scale structural interventions designed to combat systemic racial bias and overrepresentation of ethnoracial minoritized youth within the juvenile justice system.

Associations between prisons and recidivism: A nationwide longitudinal study.

ObjectivesTo examine differences in recidivism rates between different prisons using two designs—between-individual and within-individual—to account for confounding factors.MethodsWe examined recidivism rates among 37,891 individuals released from 44 Swedish prisons in three security levels, and who were followed from 2006 to 2013. We used longitudinal data from nationwide registers, including all convictions from district courts. First, we applied a between-individual design (Cox proportional hazards regression), comparing reconviction rates between individuals released from prisons within the same security level, while adjusting for a range of individual-level covariates. Second, we applied a within-individual design (stratified Cox proportional hazards regression), comparing rates of reconviction within the same individuals, i.e., we compared rates after release from one prison to the rates in the same individual after release from another prison, thus adjusting for all time-invariant confounders within each individual (e.g. genetics and early environment). We also adjusted for a range of time-varying individual-level covariates.ResultsResults showed differences in the hazard of recidivism between different prisons in between-individual analyses, with hazards ranging from 1.22 (1.05–1.43) to 4.99 (2.44–10.21). Results from within-individual analyses, which further adjusted for all time-invariant confounders, showed minimal differences between prisons, with hazards ranging from 0.95 (0.87–1.05) to 1.05 (0.95–1.16). Only small differences were found when violent and non-violent crimes were analyzed separately.ConclusionsThe study highlights the importance of research designs that more fully adjust for individual-level confounding factors to avoid over-interpretation of the variability in comparisons across prisons.

Effectiveness of forensic outpatients' psychiatric treatment and recidivism rates: A comparison study

It was previously shown that forensic outpatient psychiatric treatment lowers recidivism and improves mental health. However, there is no data specifically from Switzerland, a fact that has been repeatedly criticized by local policymakers in the course of healthcare planning. The present study aimed to describe two groups of mentally ill offenders referred to a Swiss forensic outpatient clinic, namely those accepted for treatment and those who were left untreated because their treatment was rejected. The recidivism rates of the two groups were then compared, to determine whether differences in recidivism rates between the two groups might be related to socio-demographic characteristics and mental health. Finally, improvements regarding general functional level and severity of psychopathology were evaluated over the course of time. A total of n = 131 mentally ill offenders were studied. After an average time at risk of 42.6 months, our preliminary results show that 18% of those accepted for treatment relapsed into delinquent activities, while 38% of the rejected offenders did so. We found no sociodemographic variable that differentiated between reoffenders in the two samples. Likewise, the prevalence of personality disorders was similar in the two groups. Regarding comorbidity, the combination of any substance abuse disorder and any personality disorder was more prevalent in the treated sample. Over the course of therapy, the treated group showed improvements regarding their general functional level and the severity of their psychopathology. This is the first study to explore the effects of therapeutic outpatient treatment of mentally ill offenders on Swiss recidivism rates.

Recidivism Among Justice-Involved Youth: Findings From JJ-TRIALS.

Recidivism, and the factors related to it, remains a highly significant concern among juvenile justice researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. Recent studies highlight the need to examine multiple measures of recidivism as well as conduct multilevel analyses of this phenomenon. Using data collected in a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded Juvenile Justice-Translational Research on Interventions for Adolescents in the Legal System (JJ-TRIALS) cooperative agreement, we examined individual- and site-level factors related to 1-year recidivism among probation youth in 20 sites in five states to answer research questions related to how recidivism rates differ across sites and the relationships between individual-level variables and a county-level concentrated disadvantage measure and recidivism. Our findings of large site differences in recidivism rates, and complex relationships between individual and county-level predictors of recidivism, highlight the need for more nuanced, contextually informed, multilevel approaches in studying recidivism among juveniles.

Intervention to decrease leaving without treatment among intoxicated emergency department patients

ObjectiveApproximately 15% of the >4000 patients presenting each year to our emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint or discharge diagnosis related to alcohol were leaving without treatment (LWT). If they are not clinically sober at the time of departure, these patients are at risk for falls or other injury. Our goal was to create an intervention to decrease this rate of early departure. MethodsA stakeholder group identified the reasons why intoxicated patients were leaving without treatment, concluding that the primary reason patients left was there was no process in place for evaluating and caring for these patients who potentially had impaired decision-making capacity. The group created a worksheet for the triage nurse to identify and manage patients presenting with intoxication and impaired decision-making or ambulation, with protocols to keep the patient in a supervised area. We performed a before and after analysis, evaluating 12 months before and 12 months after the protocol was initiated, with the primary outcome being the rate of intoxicated patients who left without treatment. We also measured the recidivism rate (the rate of return to the ED within 24 h after departure) and the ED length of stay (LOS). ResultsAfter the intervention was initiated, the percentage of intoxicated patients who left without treatment decreased from 15.0% to 7.4% LWT (p < 0.001). Among patients who stayed until discharge during the intervention period, the 24-hour recidivism was 9.4%, compared to 22.6% for those who left without treatment (p < 0.001). This difference in recidivism rates for each group was the same before and after the intervention, but fewer patients left without treatment after. For those patients with alcohol-related visits, the ED LOS was statistically significantly longer in the intervention phase, by a mean of 42 min for all patients (p < 0.001), as well as by a mean of 24 min for those who stayed to be dispositioned (p = 0.031). ConclusionProviding a standardized process for caring for acutely intoxicated patients leads to fewer patients leaving the ED before discharge. Patients who stay to the completion of treatment have a lower recidivism rate within 24 h after leaving than those in the leaving without treatment category.

Megan’s Law 20 Years Later: An Empirical Analysis and Policy Review

This present study examines the sexual and general recidivism rates of 547 convicted sex offenders released before and after the enactment of Megan’s Law in New Jersey. Presenting the longest Megan’s Law evaluation, participants were followed for an average of 15 years after release (range = 10-29 years). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression equations were estimated to identify covariates significantly associated with both sexual and general recidivism. Group-based trajectories of general recidivism within the 10 years post–prison release were also estimated and compared according to pre–Megan’s Law and post–Megan’s Law release status. No differences in recidivism rates were noted between the cohorts, but differences emerged in the offending trajectories of the high-risk group of offenders within 10 years of release. These results highlight the lack of impact that sex offender registration and notification (SORN) laws have on sexual and general reoffending rates postrelease.

Risk Assessment Trajectories of Youth During Juvenile Justice Residential Placement

Although the Risk–Needs–Responsivity framework has become the dominant paradigm in criminal and juvenile justice, little empirical attention has been given to the reassessment component of the model. Here, we examine dynamic risk and promotive factor trajectories of 6,442 residential commitment placements to assess differences in progression with respect to risk reduction and promotive enhancement through a buffer score rubric (buffer = promotive − risk). Results indicate that youth progress along different buffer trajectories throughout residential placement. Multinomial models also demonstrate that dynamic, changeable factors are more essential in distinguishing trajectory group membership than demographic or criminal history indicators. Finally, there were significant differences in recidivism rates across trajectories postcompletion, suggesting that improvement in (the rate of change in) buffer scores may account for some of the variation in offending behavior postrelease. Programmatic and policy implications are discussed.

An analysis of an intensive supervision program for sex offenders using propensity scores

ABSTRACTThe last several decades have seen an expansion of intensive supervision to address sexual violence. The current study examines a population of 885 sex offenders supervised by a single Midwestern Department of Corrections in the United States and assigned to intensive supervision, residential treatment, or standard probation. This study used propensity analysis to control for nonrandom assignment of offenders to the different intervention conditions. When controlling for propensity scores, overall, analyses revealed no significant differences in recidivism rates or severity of recidivated offenses between intervention groups. However, offenders in residential treatment were more likely to revocate and to commit more revocations than intensive supervision or standard probation offenders, even after controlling for propensity score. Discussion focuses on the role of intervention components as a possible explanation for lack of intervention differences, as well as future implications.

Access to Recovery and Recidivism Among Former Prison Inmates.

Access to Recovery (ATR) is a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)-funded initiative that offers a mix of clinical and supportive services for substance abuse. ATR clients choose which services will help to overcome barriers in their road to recovery, and a recovery consultant provides vouchers and helps link the client to these community resources. One of ATR's goals was to provide services to those involved in the criminal justice system in the hopes that addressing substance abuse issues could reduce subsequent criminal behaviors. This study examines this goal by looking at recidivism among a sample of clients in one state's ATR program who returned to the community after incarceration. Results suggest that there were few differential effects of service selections on subsequent recidivism. However, there are significant differences in recidivism rates among the agencies that provided ATR services. Agencies with more resources and a focus on prisoner reentry had better recidivism outcomes than those that focus only on substance abuse services.

Effect of Victim-Offender Mediation versus Dispositions on Youth Recidivism: The Role of Risk Level

The objective was to determine the efficacy of the victim-offender mediation (VOM) procedure in addressing recidivism. Altogether, 210 juvenile offenders (14–18 years old) participated in four different types of educational interventions: VOM as a diversion procedure, and case closure, reprimand, and community service as dispositions. Results showed the lack of any clear differences in recidivism rates between victim-offender mediation and the rest of the groups. An increase of the rate of recidivism could be observed in VOM at 12 months and in case closure at 24 months, as level of risk increases.

Can Antisocial Personality Disorder Be Treated? A Meta-Analysis Examining the Effectiveness of Treatment in Reducing Recidivism for Individuals Diagnosed with ASPD

The effectiveness of treatment for individuals diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) has been questioned and debated for years. As individuals with ASPD are considerably overrepresented in the criminal justice system, the ability of treatment to reduce recidivism is a prominent concern. The present meta-analysis identified six unique controlled and uncontrolled treatment outcome studies investigating the effectiveness of treatment in reducing general/any recidivism for individuals with ASPD. Results from the controlled studies indicated no significant differences in recidivism rates between individuals with ASPD in treatment and those in treatment as usual; however, the direction of the odds ratios suggested lower recidivism for the treatment groups. Results from the uncontrolled studies suggested equal effectiveness of treatment when comparing individuals with and without ASPD; however, these effects may not be attributable to the treatment in question. Interpretation of these findings and the generalizability of the general offender treatment literature to individuals with ASPD is discussed.

Gender differences in recidivism rates for juvenile justice youth: The impact of sexual abuse.

Young female offenders represent a growing number of young offenders. Studies have shown that youth in the juvenile justice system, particularly young females, report higher rates of lifetime sexual abuse than their nonoffending peers. The aim of this study was to examine gender differences in risk factors for recidivism, including a history of sexual abuse, among a juvenile court clinic sample. Findings suggest that, even after accounting for previously identified risk factors for recidivism such as prior legal involvement and conduct problems, a history of sexual abuse is the most salient predictor of recidivism for young female offenders, but not for males. The development of gender-responsive interventions to reduce juvenile recidivism and continued legal involvement into adulthood may be warranted.

Identifying Areas of Specific Responsivity in Cognitive–Behavioral Treatment Outcomes

This study examines the impact of offenders’ psychological and demographic attributes and their offense history on the effectiveness of Reasoning and Rehabilitation, a cognitive–behavioral intervention. Differential effects were examined for a sample of 940 male parolees randomly assigned to either experimental or comparison conditions. The study used survival analysis to test interactions between treatment and age, race, social class, risk, marital status, prearrest employment status, education, prior violence, interpersonal maturity level, personality, reading level, and IQ. For the entire sample, the difference in recidivism rates (returns to prison up to 33 months) was not statistically significant. The analysis of differential effects, however, uncovered five interaction effects. The treated high-risk, aged 28 to 32 years, assessed as dependent (Jesness Inventory [JI]), and White groups evidenced lower recidivism rates than their comparison group. The treated parolee group assessed with high anxiety (JI) evidenced a higher recidivism rate than their comparison group.

Costs of treating depression with individual versus family therapy.

Depression is one of the most common concerns that bring clients to treatment. Although marriage and family therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment, little research exists regarding the cost-effectiveness of related services. In this study, we examined claims data for 164,667 individuals diagnosed with depression to determine (a) differences in the cost of treating depression according to type of therapy and license type, (b) differences in recidivism rates by age, gender, type of therapy, and type of mental health professional, and (c) differences in cost-effectiveness by therapy modality and type of professional. The results showed that services provided by marriage and family therapists resulted in the lowest recidivism rate, and family therapy services were the least expensive.

Does Volunteering for Sex Offender Treatment Matter? Using Propensity Score Analysis to Understand the Effects of Volunteerism and Treatment on Recidivism

A common critique of program evaluations of prison-based sex offender treatment holds that the samples inherently show selection bias because the participants typically volunteer for treatment. To address this critique, we used propensity score analysis to assess the influence of volunteerism on treatment effects. We examined recidivism outcomes for a sample of participants who volunteered for treatment, of whom some participated in treatment (n = 161) and some did not (n = 282) and compared these outcomes to the recidivism rate of a matched sample of nonvolunteers for treatment (n = 443). The primary finding is that offenders who volunteered for treatment did not demonstrate any differences in recidivism rates when matched with and compared to inmates who did not volunteer to participate in treatment. Furthermore, our results revealed that there were a number of significant differences between unmatched volunteers and unmatched nonvolunteers, perhaps most importantly in their risk for future recidivism as measured by the STATIC-99 risk assessment. We discuss study strengths and limitations and present the implications of the findings for policy, practice, and research.

Predicting success and failure in juvenile drug treatment court: A meta-analytic review

This meta-analysis summarizes 41 studies that examined associations between characteristics of adolescent participants in juvenile drug treatment court and outcomes (i.e., premature termination, recidivism). A summary of within- and post-program recidivism rates was calculated, as was a global estimate of the premature drop-out rate. One clear trend in the available studies was the dramatic difference in recidivism rates for adolescents who succeed in graduating from drug court, relative to those who do not. In addition, the review revealed that behavior patterns evidenced during drug court participation were most strongly associated with both the probability of graduating successfully from drug court and recidivism (e.g., few in-program arrests, citations, detentions, and referrals; greater length of time in program or amount of treatment; lower use of drug and alcohol use, few positive urine screens, greater school attendance). Unfortunately, non-white participants tend to have a lower probability of graduation from drug court and experience higher recidivism during and following the program. Available juvenile drug treatment court studies confirm a number of reputed adolescent risk factors associated with substance abuse, criminality, treatment failure, and recidivism among adolescents (e.g., higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems, higher levels and severity of pre-program substance abuse, male gender). Suggestions for improving the effects of juvenile drug treatment court based on key results of the meta-analysis are offered.

A Comparative Analysis of Recidivism With Propensity Score Matching of Informal and Formal Juvenile Probationers

Given service costs and evidence suggesting mixing young offenders of different risk levels increases recidivism, this study determined the extent to which differential disposition and risk determined subsequent recidivism. Furthermore, this study entailed a comparison of offense outcomes for informal probationers (n = 581) and formal probationers (n = 773) of similar risk levels. Criminogenic risk was assessed using the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory. To control for selection effects, the two groups were matched based on propensity scores. Validation of the measure yielded an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of .67 for informal probationers and .62 for formal probationers. Low-, moderate-, and high-risk probationers were found in both groups of offenders. However, there were no significant differences in recidivism rates between similar risk level youth of the two respective probation groups. Policy and practice implications are offered and discussed.

An Exploratory Study of a Wilderness Adventure Program for Young Offenders

Abstract Wilderness adventure programs have been utilized as an intervention in youth corrections in the United States since the arrival of Outward Bound in the early 1960s. This exploratory study evaluates the effects of a 21-day wilderness adventure program for young offenders called Wilderness Endeavors. The results of the study showed that self-efficacy and hope scores changed significantly and that young offenders who had reported higher levels of hope were less likely to recidivate than those who had reported lower levels. When comparing the treatment group to a control group, no significant differences in recidivism rates, school participation, or employment rates were found. The limitations, challenges, and recommendations for research on wilderness programs for young offenders are also discussed.

Examining the Impact of Mixing Child Molesters and Rapists in Group-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Sexual Offenders

This study examines the relationship between recidivism rates, therapeutic climate, and composition of offenders in group-based cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for sexual offenders. The Group Environment Scale (GES) is employed to measure social climate. The GES is administered to 73 male sexual offenders in groups of those who only victimized adults or children (five groups) or men who both victimized adults and those who victimized children (five groups). Group environment is not found to differ significantly as a function of group composition. Group member's ratings on the GES are in the medium to high range, indicating a generally positive group environment. Although the group environment overall does not differ between groups, groups do differ significantly in terms of expressiveness. There are no differences in recidivism rates between groups as a function of group composition. The results are discussed in the light of mixing child molesters and rapists in group-based CBT.