Offender Program Research Articles

Relationships Between Shame, Restrictiveness, Authoritativeness, and Coercive Control in Men Mandated to a Domestic Violence Offenders Program

Coercive control, a key element of intimate partner violence (IPV), is defined as an abuse dynamic that intends to strip the target of autonomy and liberty. While coercive control is gaining popularity in the research world, little is known about its correlates and causes. This study sought to examine how shame and men’s need for dominance, measured by two trait indexes of dominance, restrictiveness and the need for authority, influence coercive control. The present study used a diverse sample of men (n = 134) who were mandated to attend a domestic violence offenders program. Findings suggest that shame plays a role in the commission of coercively controlling behavior both directly and partially through its influence on authority but not through restrictiveness. Implications for understanding IPV in a domestic violence offenders program are discussed.

Effectiveness of a risk–need–responsivity‐based treatment program for violent and sexual offenders: Results of a retrospective, quasi‐experimental study

PurposeRelapse prevention is an important goal in correctional settings. Although there is strong evidence for the effectiveness of certain treatment programs for juvenile offenders, those for adults lack such evidence. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a risk–need–responsivity (RNR)‐based intervention.MethodsA quasi‐experimental, observational study design and cox regression analysis were used to compare treated violent and sexual offenders (n = 171) with untreated offenders (n = 241).ResultsBoth groups were observed for an average of 7.9 years. Recidivism rates of treated offenders (11.7%, n = 20) were similar to those of control offenders (15.8%, n = 38; p = .25). When controlling for confounding variables, the hazard of recidivism in the treatment group was 5.2% lower than that in the control group. Subdividing the treatment group resulted in lower hazard ratios for offenders still in therapy when released and offenders cancelling therapy. However, none of the group differences was statistically significant.ConclusionOur results show that control and RNR‐based treatment groups had comparable recidivism rates with a trend towards a positive treatment effect, especially for people in outpatient treatment. However, criminal history, age at the start of follow‐up, and actuarial risk of recidivism were significantly associated with recidivism. Future research needs to apply elaborate methodological approaches to detect robust treatment effects and consider different criteria of treatment effectiveness. Furthermore, the influence of prison climate, motivational factors, intervention quality, and factors supporting the success of outpatient treatment should be considered in future studies of larger offender samples.

"The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of the Parts": Prison Staff Perceptions of Domestic Violence Rehabilitation Programs.

This qualitative study is part of a mixed methods research project that examined the effectiveness of the primary rehabilitation program for domestic violence offenders in the Israeli Prison Services-the "House of Hope." The quantitative part of the study showed that the "House of Hope" program was effective in reducing recidivism among participating inmates. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the rehabilitation program according to the perspectives of the program staff. For this purpose, semistructured interviews were conducted with the department staff during the study as well as with past directors. The qualitative findings suggested that the success of the program probably stemmed from a synergistic combination of several components, for example, identifying the characteristics of domestic violence offenders and adjusting treatment programs to their needs, along with exposure to psychological treatment in varied therapies (cognitive behavioral therapy, psychoeducational, and psychodynamic) and formats (group therapy and individual therapy) during a 1-year stay in a hierarchical therapeutic community. Other components mentioned are staff professionalism, stability, and the program's location in a therapeutic-oriented prison that is architecturally designed and built to create a less stressful environment for the inmates and the staff.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Community Behavioral Health Service Usage: A Comparison of Mental Health Court and Traditional Court Defendants

Mental health courts (MHCs) are diversion programs for offenders with mental illness. Research has demonstrated that MHC participants receive more treatment than traditional court participants. However, little is known about racial/ethnic disparities in community treatment utilization among MHC participants compared with traditional court participants. The present study aimed to fill this gap. Data are from the MacArthur MHC Project which includes objective and subjective information from four MHC samples with traditional court samples at each site. Within the traditional court sample, African Americans were less likely than Whites to receive mental health and substance abuse services. However, significant racial/ethnic disparities were not found for the MHC sample. In an interaction model, African Americans were still less likely to use substance abuse services (but not mental health services) compared with the Whites. However, African American MHC participants utilized more substance abuse services than their counterparts. Policy and practice implications are discussed.

The Effectiveness of a Cognitive Skills Training Program for Adult Offenders

This article provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of the “CoVa” cognitive skills training program. A quasi-experimental design was used to compare the known reoffending behavior of 2,229 CoVa participants with that of two control groups of offenders: (1) one formed using the inclusion criteria of the program, and (2) one formed using propensity score matching (PSM). Outcome measures included the prevalence, frequency, and impact of new, adjudicated crimes, with the impact defined as the combined severity of the offenses. Results indicated that the participants in the CoVa group were reconvicted less frequently than those in Control Group 1. Moreover, the impact of their recidivism was lower than the impact of those of Control Group 2. However, the effect sizes were very small, and no significant differences were found regarding reconviction prevalence. Explanations for the absence of (large) effects are discussed.

The unusual suspects: Female versus male accused in child sexual abuse cases

When women encounter the criminal justice system, it is typically as victims rather than as offenders. Consequently, there is limited empirical research on women who have sexually offended against children, but there is a clinically-significant group of victims who have experienced female-perpetrated child sexual abuse (CSA). In a database of 4237 CSA cases that were heard in criminal courts between 1986 and 2012, we found 70 cases that involved female accused. We compared female-accused cases against a randomly selected sample of 70 male-accused cases from the same database. We investigated associations between gender of the accused and characteristics of the victim, offense, and criminal proceeding. Several important differences between female- and male-accused cases were found: proportionally more male complainants were in female-accused cases; female-accused offenses were longer in duration; and despite offenses being similarly intrusive, female perpetrators received shorter sentences. This research indicates that there are potentially unique pathways to abuse for women and men, and unique experiences in the criminal justice system. Although female perpetrators are involved in a small proportion of CSA offenses, the cases that we describe herein are important to consider when developing appropriate support and intervention programs for offenders and victims of CSA.

INTUIT: A Career Decision-Making Intervention for Female Offenders in Reentry

This study evaluates cross-sectional data from 9 years of the INTUIT: Work and Careers intervention ( N = 491), a program for female offenders in reentry. Of several measures used, participants showed increases on the five career decision-making self-efficacy factors assessed by the Career Decision Making Self-Efficacy Short Form ( CDMSE-SF), over the course of the intervention, whereas no changes were observed across the same testing period for the control group. When control and invention groups were compared, statistically significant differences were only seen for INTUIT participants in levels of self-appraisal and goal selection. Implications of these findings are addressed.

Sixteen years of the Brooklands Thinking Skills Offender Programme

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on the Brooklands Thinking Skills Offender Programme (BTSOP), a social problem-solving skills group programme developed and provided to people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) detained in conditions of medium and low security. The programme has been running and evolving since 2001 and has undergone consistent development over this time. Within the past five years, there have been significant developments of the Secure Service Treatment Pathway and the current paper describes the integration of the BTSOP within this new pathway model.Design/methodology/approachThe programme was evaluated over five years using self-report psychometric measures related to treatment targets. Evaluation data in relation to attrition rates, discharges, transfers, treatment engagement and recidivism are also provided from a 16-year period. The updated treatment pathway and a description of the programme are provided.FindingsResults showed statistically significant improvements in Rational Problem Solving, increased internal locus of control and decreased external locus of control. Reflection on the limitations and challenges to outcome assessment in this area is offered.Originality/valueThis paper builds on the existing evidence base of interventions focused on developing social problem-solving skills in offenders and presents evidence of the effectiveness of such programmes with offenders with IDs.

Justice System Bias Perceptions of the Dually Marginalized: Observations from a Sample of Women Ex-offenders

ABSTRACTSocial constructions of race, gender, and class are known to shape stereotypes that condition interaction and behavior across various contexts, including the criminal justice system. From an intersectional framework emphasizing dual marginalization, this study relates in-depth interviews with women ex-offenders regarding their justice system experiences to explore perceived race and gender themed discrimination. Findings of reported pejorative language and degrading behavior reaffirm a well-documented generalized assumption by women of color that disparate treatment is normative. Discussion centers on how these views are detrimental to rehabilitation enrollment, related implications for offender programming objectives, and the utility of intersectionality theory for analyzing related justice topics.

Donning the Cloak of Wisdom: Giving Back to a Prison-Based Therapeutic Community

Creating hopeful possibilities for the lives of men with a known history of perpetrating sexual abuse is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks in the fields of criminal justice and social rehabilitation. Prison in many ways represents the least optimistic setting for such a task. The dangerous and deadening environment of such institutions seems anathema to generating the audacity and vitality required to drive a restorative agenda. The context for this article is a prototypical prison-based sex offender program set in a purposefully therapeutic community. The article recounts a series of uplifting ideas, events, and encounters that inspired often unlikely but productive collaborations among the residents of this community. These events provided the beginnings of an enduring library of stories recounting the valuable and hard-won wisdom attained and shared among inmates, and bestowed upon those still to start the journey.

“Leaving No Child Behind:” Preferences for Social Inclusion and Altruism

Abstract Social inclusion is a priority item of international policy agendas. However, little is known about households’ preferences for policies aiming at social inclusion. We implement a household survey in both northern and southern Italy to investigate preferences for financing rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders, a particularly vulnerable group exposed to social exclusion. We find that although societies can be equally socially inclusive, families’ propensity towards “leaving no child behind” varies depending on the presence of children in the family, and household income. We also show that differences in preferences do not depend only on socio-demographic characteristics but also on the subjective concern about crime risk, the immigration rate as well as on altruistic motives. Our results guide the implementation of policies promoting social inclusion across regions.

Potential underpinnings for community maintenance programs for sexual offenders

Abstract The majority of incarcerated sexual offenders will one-day return to the community. While a great proportion are likely to have participated in a custodial offence-specific treatment program, knowing what happens to this ‘acquired’ knowledge and skill once they are released and how this influences the desistance process remains unclear. Research on offender rehabilitation often focuses on the efficacy of custodial treatment interventions for offenders, while studies examining post-release programs for offenders has some untapped potential. Further to this, an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings for any community maintenance-type programs for offenders remains relatively untouched in the offender rehabilitation literature. Thus, this paper attempts to explore some of the potential theoretical underpinnings for community maintenance programs for sexual offenders. Consideration will be given to the definition of such programs, some of the theories that may inform these programs, and the incorporation of desistance theory into maintenance programs.

Psychological Assessment of Adolescent Offenders: Validity of the Brazilian Jesness Inventory–Revised

AbstractThis work presents validation of the Jesness Inventory, particularly its revised version, to the Brazilian reality. It was developed by Carl Jesness, based on his clinical experience and research programs for juvenile offenders, to assess juvenile offenders, particularly to understand the functioning of their personality, offering clues to customize psychosocial intervention, and verification of results from this, in terms of changes in adolescents’ beliefs/values and attitudes. Regarding the psychometric properties, the revised version showed an adequate internal consistency and temporal stability. For the evidence of validity, the results of the concurrent criterion and simultaneous validity were in agreement with those found in other studies, emphasizing the specific capacities of this instrument to distinguish adolescent offenders from non-offenders and properly classify them, denoting its quality in helping the diagnostic process. Research to verify predictive and construct validity is being carried out.

Collaborative efforts by the Auburn University Applied Behavior Analysis Program in the Treatment of Adolescents Adjudicated for Illegal Sexual Behavior

As the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) moves towards recognition as an established profession (Johnston, Carr, & Mellichamp, 2017), it is important to identify strides in diverse treatment and research areas. One such area is that of the treatment of adolescents adjudicated for illegal sexual behavior. This is a population of individuals for whom psychologists have recognized the need for a unique and holistic treatment approach (LeTourneau et al., 2009). Although some branches of psychology have a well-established history working with this population, the behaviorist branch has yet to establish a strong foothold. The purpose of the current article is to describe a partnership between the Auburn ABA Master’s Program and the Accountability Based Sex Offender Program based in Alabama. This partnership has resulted in fruitful consequences for both parties in the areas of clinical service delivery and research productivity. The manner in which the partnership evolved and flourished is not unique to work with adolescents adjudicated for illegal sexual behavior. We describe the specific steps and groups of behaviors we employed to find success in this unique setting and suggest that they be employed in other diverse areas.

Cost-benefits of a domestic abuse program for Australian offenders

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine recidivism costs and benefits for 1,030 community-based male offenders enrolled in a domestic abuse program (DAP) compared to an untreated control group (n=1,030) matched on risk factors.Design/methodology/approachThe study time frame was October 1, 2007-June 30, 2010 with reconvictions measured to December 31, 2010. Follow up averaged 19 months. Controls received standard community supervision, but no domestic violence group interventions. Follow up measures included court costs for violent and non-violent reconvictions; re-incarcerations and community-based orders costs measured in days.FindingsAdjusting for time at risk, DAP enrollees had 29 percent fewer reconvictions, 46 percent fewer violent reconvictions, 34 percent fewer custodial days, but 23 percent more days on community orders. Costs: DAP enrollment avoided $2.52 M in custodial costs, but higher community correction costs (+$773 K) and court costs (+$5.8 K), reducing the DAP’s criminal justice system cost savings to $1.754 M ($8.92 M for the DAP group compared to $10.67M for controls). Cost benefits: when the 64 DAP program costs were deducted ($602 K), the net benefit to the New South Wales criminal justice system was $1,141 M, or $1,108 per enrollee, providing a net benefit/cost ratio of 2.89. If the DAP was completed, the net benefit was $1,820 per offender. These results compares favorably to economic evaluations of other community-based interventions.Practical implicationsGroup interventions for domestically violent (DV) offenders can provide good investment returns to tax payers and government by reducing demand on scarce criminal justice system resources. The study provides insights into justice costs for DV offenders; a methodological template to determine cost benefits for offender programs and a contribution to cost-effective evidence-based crime reduction interventions.Originality/valueUsing a rigorous methodology, official court, custodial and community correction services costing data, this is the first Australian cost benefit analysis of a domestic violence group intervention, and the first to justify program expenditure by demonstrating substantial savings to the criminal justice system.

Mandatory sobriety programmes for alcohol-involved criminal offenders.

Mandatory sobriety programmes for alcohol-involved criminal offenders.

Describing theoretical underpinnings in juvenile justice diversion: A case study explicating Teen Court program theory to guide research and practice

In light of evidence that justice system involvement contributes to poor social, economic, and health consequences for youth, many jurisdictions have begun to implement diversion programs for first-time or low-level juvenile offenders. While Teen Court—a program in which youth are judged by their peers and assigned development-oriented sentences—is a prevalent model of juvenile justice diversion, its theoretical basis has not been empirically examined. This in-depth case study sought to describe current practice and characterize theoretical assumptions of the Los Angeles County Teen Court program. Methods included: 1) structured observations of Teen Court hearings (n=12); and 2) key informant interviews with youth processed through Teen Court (n=10). Case findings illustrate the Los Angeles County Teen Court program's focus on hierarchical decision-making, procedural consistency, and deterrence paired with development-oriented supports and services. Practices reflect a combination of retributive and rehabilitative theoretical perspectives, with limited alignment to the reparative perspective. Results from qualitative interviews support the possible positive impacts of Teen Court on program participants; however, given the potentially competing theoretical assumptions that influence local practice, additional work is needed to better understand the relative value of this approach. The practice-grounded logic model developed through this case study provides a foundation for future research and practice locally, including outcome evaluation. The processes and tools described in this study provide an example for other jurisdictions seeking to conduct theory-informed planning and assessment of juvenile diversion efforts.

Using the MAYSI-2 to identify mental disorder among Latino juvenile offenders.

Many juvenile justice agencies have adopted the Massachusetts Youth Screening Inventory-Version 2 (MAYSI-2; Grisso & Barnum, 2006) to facilitate appropriate programming for young offenders with mental illness. Although Latinos are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the criminal justice system, there is scant research on the utility of the MAYSI-2 among Latino adolescents. The present study examined the utility of the MAYSI-2 in detecting diagnosable mental illness among 398 Latino and 60 European American adolescents in a juvenile justice agency. In addition to testing the scoring configuration used by the agency to identify adolescents in need of further attention, we tested 2 additional scoring configurations of the MAYSI-2. We found that the MAYSI-2 had similar utility at identifying serious mood and anxiety disorders for both ethnic groups, but was less sensitive to behavioral and substance use disorders among Latinos than it was among European Americans. In addition, the MAYSI-2 overall was less sensitive to mental illness among Latino boys compared with Latina girls. We discuss these findings within the context of best practices for identifying adolescents with mental illness in juvenile justice agencies. (PsycINFO Database Record

Virtuous profits: Pay for success arrangements and the future of recidivism reduction

Pay for success contracting is the latest financial instrument for funding social programs. Governments in Australia, the UK, the US, and elsewhere are piloting their use in reentry programs, youth offender programs, and a host of other initiatives aimed at homelessness, child welfare, workforce development, and preventive health care. Under a pay for success arrangement, private investors put up capital to fund a program, and if successful, a government agency will repay the investors with a yield, that is, with a profit. This article situates pay for success contracting in the context of reentry and decarceration and it theorizes how the arrangement will reverberate through new alternatives to incarceration and fundamentally change the meaning of “what works.” The article concludes by locating pay for success within the broader drift toward securitizing marginal populations under neoliberalism.

Using the “recovery” and “rehabilitation” paradigms to support desistance of substance-involved offenders: exploration of dual and multi-focus interventions

Purpose The links between substance use and offending are well evidenced in the literature, and increasingly, substance misuse recovery is being seen as a central component of the process of rehabilitation from offending, with substance use identified as a key criminogenic risk factor. In recent years, research has demonstrated the commonalities between recovery and rehabilitation, and the possible merits of providing interventions to substance-involved offenders that address both problematic sets of behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the links between substance use and offending, and the burgeoning literature around the parallel processes of recovery and rehabilitation. Design/methodology/approach This is provided as a rationale for a new treatment approach for substance-involved offenders, Breaking Free Online (BFO), which has recently been provided as part of the “Gateways” throughcare pathfinder in a number of prisons in North-West England. The BFO programme contains specific behaviour change techniques that are generic enough to be applied to change a wide range of behaviours, and so is able to support substance-involved offenders to address their substance use and offending simultaneously. Findings This dual and multi-target intervention approach has the potential to address multiple, associated areas of need simultaneously, streamlining services and providing more holistic support for individuals, such as substance-involved offenders, who may have multiple and complex needs. Practical implications Given the links between substance use and offending, it may be beneficial to provide multi-focussed interventions that address both these behaviours simultaneously, in addition to other areas of multiple and complex needs. Specifically, digital technologies may provide an opportunity to widen access to such multi-focussed interventions, through computer-assisted therapy delivery modalities. Additionally, using digital technologies to deliver such interventions can provide opportunities for joined-up care by making interventions available across both prison and community settings, following offenders on their journey through the criminal justice system. Originality/value Recommendations are provided to other intervention developers who may wish to further contribute to widening access to such dual- and multi-focus programmes for substance-involved offenders, based on the experiences developing and evidencing the BFO programme.