Measures Of Recidivism Research Articles

Going straight home? Housing stability and post-prison reoffending in Aotearoa New Zealand

ABSTRACT International research has found that post-release stable accommodation is associated with reduced recidivism, however, research exploring this relationship in Aotearoa New Zealand and its potential causal nature is limited. Drawing on quantitative pre- and post-release interviews with people released from prison in Aotearoa New Zealand, this article examines their housing situations and the relationship between two measures of recidivism (re-sentencing and re-imprisonment) and two measures of housing stability (stable housing and residential mobility). Whilst stable housing is associated with a reduced risk of re-imprisonment, after controlling for confounding variables using inverse probability of treatment weighting, a direct causal relationship between housing stability and recidivism could not be found. We conclude that housing stability is therefore likely to be indicative of broader stability post-release and supports other factors related to successful reintegration, including the development of social capital.

The efficacy of psychological interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in incarcerated forensic populations: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Given the high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in incarcerated forensic populations, this meta-analysis estimated the efficacy of interventions in this field and explored predictors of intervention outcomes. Twelve randomized controlled trials of psychological interventions for PTSD symptoms in incarcerated forensic populations were included. A combined Hedges's g effect size was synthesized, quality assessments and risk of bias analyses were performed, and publication bias was assessed. Gender and type of control group were explored as predictors. Thirteen comparisons from 12 studies were included in the main analysis. A small to medium combined effect size (g = 0.43, p = .005) was found at posttreatment. The type of control group (p = .156) and gender (p = .953) did not predict outcomes. When we analyzed the available follow-up data (k = 5), the effect was nonsignificant (g = 0.36, p = .123). Study quality was poor and risk of bias high, and studies of first-line PTSD treatments were not found in the literature. A few studies suggest that PTSD treatment may improve symptoms in incarcerated forensic populations, at least temporarily. Follow-up data are still too scarce to draw conclusions about long-term outcomes. Findings of this study indicate that methodologically rigorous outcome research in these populations is needed, with a specific focus on first-line PTSD treatments, long-term efficacy, measurement of recidivism, as well as addressing comorbid conditions given the common complex clinical and social needs in this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The role of Qatar's first forensic community team in reducing recidivism and re-admission of mentally unwell offenders.

Introduction: Qatar established its Community Forensic Mental Health Team (CFMHT) in 2019 as part of the region's first comprehensive forensic psychiatry service. We present here the data on clinical and offending outcomes since its establishment and compare this with data from before the service was established. Objectives: To compare clinical and offending outcomes in mental health patients with criminal offending histories in Qatar before and after the establishment of CFMHT. Methods: This is a retrospective study comparing the socio-demographical characteristics, clinical outcome and recidivism measures of forensic patients, under the CFMHT for the last 2 years with data from a similar period before the services were in place. Results: Data for 85 patients under the active care of forensic community team were matched with a comparable group before the establishment of the services. The re-admission and reoffending rates after the establishment of the service over 2-year follow-up were 17.6% and 12.9%, respectively, compared with 40% and 32% before the service. Conclusions: Since its inception, the CFMHT has made a significant positive impact on quality of life, mental well-being and safety of patients under its care. Close working relationships with the criminal justice system, families and carers have helped fight stigma and promote safer communities.

Changing Places: The Role of Household and Community Context in Long-Term Patterns of Recidivism

The period of reentering society after prison is a critical time in the life-course and presents numerous challenges. With whom and where individuals live can determine aspects of social support, as well as bonds and informal social control that may predict whether a person “succeeds” by abstaining from crime and avoiding technical violations of parole. We use detailed administrative data from a release cohort in Missouri to construct monthly variation in household and community context at two levels (neighborhood disadvantage and county-level rural-urban designation). We follow the local-life circumstances approach, decomposing changing context into within and between person variation (Horney et al., 1995). We find important selection effects but also intervention effects – with households including family as particularly beneficial. This work further highlights the needs for multiple measures of recidivism and a broadening of the geographic locales researchers and policymakers consider.

Prevalence of Dangerousness to the Public, Criminogenic Risk Factors and Psychopathic Traits in Child-to-Parent Offenders and Contrast with Non-Child-to-Parent Offenders.

Child-to-parent offenders (CPOs) are commonly specialist offenders and with high rates of recidivism. Thus, a field study was designed to estimate the prevalence of recidivism in the reference measures of recidivism i.e., dangerousness, risk factors and psychopathy, and compare CPOs with non-child-to-parent juvenile offenders (non-CPOs). A total of 136 juvenile offenders (76.5% boys), 76 CPOs and 60 non-CPOs, aged from 14 to 18 years old, were measured in terms of dangerousness, risk factors and psychopathic traits. For CPOs, the results show a more than common prevalence (>0.50), 75.0%, 95% CI [0.653, 0.847]) of dangerousness (caseness); a significant prevalence (>0.05) of diagnostic psychopathy (25.0%, 95% CI [0.150, 0.350]); and a common prevalence (=0.50), 55.3%, 95% CI [0.441, 0.665]) of classifications of high- and very high-risk factors. Comparatively, no significant differences were observed between CPOs and non-CPOs in terms of mental health problems (dangerousness); meanwhile CPOs exhibited significantly more interpersonal and affective psychopathic traits and significantly higher risks in family circumstances/parenting, and personality and behavior risk factors. The implications for prevention and intervention programs with CPOs are discussed.

Improving the livelihoods of justice-involved youth: Study protocol for a replication and extension of Functional Family Therapy-Gangs

BackgroundThis study will evaluate Functional Family Therapy-Gangs (FFT-G), an extension of a family-based therapeutic intervention—Functional Family Therapy (FFT)—designed to help troubled youth exhibiting mild to severe behavior problems overcome delinquency, substance abuse, and violence. FFT-G, however, addresses risk factors that are typically more salient among gang than delinquent populations. A randomized control trial with adjudicated youth in Philadelphia revealed reductions in recidivism over an 18-month period. The purposes of this paper are to outline the protocol for replicating FFT-G in the Denver metropolitan area, document the design and challenges of the prospective research, and promote transparency. MethodsAs a condition of pre-trial or probation supervision, 400 youth/caregiver dyads will be randomly assigned to FFT-G or a treatment-as-usual control group. Preregistered confirmatory outcomes include recidivism (i.e., criminal/delinquent charges and adjudications/convictions) measured using official records (Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/abyfs). Secondary outcomes include measures of gang embeddedness, non-violent and violent recidivism, and substance use measured using interview-based surveys and arrest, revocation, incarceration, and crime type indicators of recidivism from official records. Exploratory mediation and moderation analyses are also planned. Intent-to-treat regression analyses will estimate intervention effects 18 months post-randomization. ConclusionThis study will contribute to advancing high-quality evidence-based knowledge on gang interventions for which there are few known effective responses.

Exploring the Role of Psycho-Social Factors on the Recidivism of Homicide Offenders

Research on criminal recidivism is extensive. However, little is known about how cumulative risk factors influence recidivism, specifically among homicide offenders. The current study examines the effect of cumulative psychological and social risk factors on recidivism patterns for homicide offenders released in Florida between 2004 and 2011. Analyses of 4,323 homicide offenders indicate that the influence of cumulative psycho-social risk factors varies depending on the measure of recidivism and the statistical method used. The implications of these findings for theory and research are considered.

Sexual Offense Disclosure Assessment in Youth Referred to Community Treatment: A Latent Class Analysis.

This study seeks to extend research evaluating tools to assess the disclosure of sexually abusive behavior. The subjects were 239 male youth (ages 10-20years) who were court-ordered to participate in a community-based collaborative intervention for sexual offending that includes outpatient and probationary services. All youth participated in an interview to capture referral incident details about admission, responsibility, empathy, and remorse at intake, during intervention, and at discharge. Intake, treatment, discharge, and recidivism measures were also collected from multiple sources. Latent class analysis identified three classes based on the intake interview: Empathetic Admitters (22%), Unempathetic Admitters (38%), and Unempathetic Deniers (40%). Significant class differences were found on intake (e.g., use of physical force, caregiver denial of youth responsibility), treatment (e.g., any sanctions/violations), and discharge measures (e.g., successful treatment, probation officer ratings), but not in recidivism rates. The findings extend efforts to identify and target different disclosure patterns whose clinical monitoring may support a comprehensive intervention.

Exploring Variation in the Strength of Association of a Validated Recidivism Risk Score With Seven Common Measures of Juvenile Recidivism: A Research Note

The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive strength of a previously validated risk score across seven different operationalizations of juvenile recidivism. Drawing on data from the Florida portion of the Measuring Juvenile Reoffending Study, the study examines two research questions. First, do recidivism risk scores significantly predict a variety of measures of juvenile recidivism? And second, do risk scores exert statistically different effects on different measures of juvenile recidivism? The findings revealed that risk score significantly predicted all seven measures of juvenile recidivism. In addition, the only evidence of statistically different associations across measures of recidivism came from marker event (i.e., types of system contact) comparisons. Total risk score was a significantly stronger predictor of referral than of adjudication/conviction and a stronger predictor of adjudication and commitment. Altogether, our results highlight the importance of validating risk assessment scores on multiple different operationalizations of juvenile recidivism.

Safer communities; how the first forensic community mental health team helped improve mental health, battle stigma, and reduce offending

IntroductionQatar established its Forensic Community Mental Health Team (FCMHT) in 2019 as part of the region’s first comprehensive forensic psychiatry service. We present here the data on clinical and offending outcomes since its establishment and compare this with data from before the service was establishedObjectivesTo compare clinical and offending outcomes in mental health patients with criminal offending histories in Qatar before and after the establishment of Forensic Community Mental Health Team (FCMHT).MethodsThis is a retrospective study comparing the socio-demographical characteristics, clinical outcome and recidivism measures of forensic patients, under the FCMHT for the last two years with data from a similar period before the services were in place.ResultsData for 170 patients in total was analyzed. 85 patients currently under the active care of forensic community team were matched with a comparable group before the establishment of the services. The re-admission and reoffending rates after the establishment of the service over 1 year of follow up was 15% and 20% respectively compared with 60% and 85% of the group before the service.ConclusionsSince its inception, the FCMHT has made significant positive impact on quality of life, mental well-being and safety of patients under its care. Close working relationships with criminal justice system, families and carers has helped fight stigma and promote safer community.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Seeing the forest and the trees: Examining the impact of aggregate measures of recidivism on meta-analytic conclusions of intervention effects

Seeing the forest and the trees: Examining the impact of aggregate measures of recidivism on meta-analytic conclusions of intervention effects

Seeing the forest and the trees: Examining the impact of aggregate measures of recidivism on meta-analytic conclusions of intervention effects

Recidivism is a multidimensional construct that is operationalized in a variety of ways. We explored the impact of using aggregated measures of recidivism (i.e. multiple measures combined) versus disaggregated measures (i.e. defined specifically as parole violation, arrest, conviction, incarceration) in meta-analytic analyses of correctional intervention effectiveness. Using a sample of 20 meta-analyses, we compared within-study findings between aggregated and disaggregated measures. Over half (60%) of the studies differed with respect to the statistical significance of their aggregated versus disaggregated findings, suggesting that aggregated measures of recidivism may give an incomplete picture of treatment effectiveness. Disaggregating measures of recidivism in meta-analysis is recommended for a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of intervention approaches. Policy implications are discussed.

Visitation patterns and post-release offending: Exploring variations in the timing, rate, and consistency of prison visits

PurposePrior research and theory suggest that receiving visits in prison can reduce recidivism. However, recent scholarship shows that there is variability in whether, how often, and when individuals are visited while incarcerated which may affect post-release outcomes. This study therefore investigates how the frequency and timing of prison visits relate to post-release offending among individuals incarcerated in the Netherlands. MethodData were drawn from the Dutch Prison Visitation Study, which includes detailed measures of visitation, recidivism, and several covariates. Group-based trajectory models were employed to identify visitation patterns. Then, logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of these trajectories on the likelihood of reconviction. ResultsThe results demonstrate that consistent, frequent visitation and visits near release are associated with reductions in reconvictions, especially in the first 6 months after release. No significant associations were found between individuals who only sporadically receive visits or experience a decrease in visits in the months before release on recidivism when compared to non-visited individuals. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that some visits (such as frequent, consistent visits) may be beneficial for reducing recidivism in the short-term. More research is needed to understand how and why these visits contribute to reductions in recidivism.

Comparing Official Measures of Recidivism in Juvenile Justice

Comparing Official Measures of Recidivism in Juvenile Justice

Less Is More: The Effect of a Short-term Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program on Recidivism

ABSTRACT Most people behind bars suffer from substance use disorders (SUDs), but very few of them participate in treatment prior to leaving prison. Minnesota implemented a shorter-term therapeutic community-based treatment program to target higher custody individuals serving relatively short terms of incarceration. The purpose of this research is to determine whether this program reduced the likelihood of recidivism. This study used propensity score matching to compare 351 men who participated in the short-term SUD treatment program to 351 men who left prison without participating in any treatment. Cox regression was used to predict four different types of recidivism. This research found that participation in the short-term program significantly reduced the likelihood of three out of four measures of recidivism. A medium level of treatment exposure (four to five months) significantly reduced the likelihood of all four types of recidivism relative to individuals who did not participate in any treatment. This research contributes to a growing body of evidence showing that evidence-based SUD treatment programs do not need to be long to be effective. By reducing the length of treatment, prisons can increase their treatment capacity, ensuring that fewer individuals leave prison without treatment.

Pharmacological interventions for alcohol misuse in correctional settings: A systematic review.

The prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is estimated to be 10 times higher amongst individuals in the criminal justice system than the general population. Alcohol use is also one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for recidivism. One intervention that has been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol consumption in the general population is medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and this systematic review synthesized the existing evidence on MAT for AUD in correctional settings. Empirical, peer-reviewed studies on approved medications for AUD in correctional populations were searched in major databases. One hundred sixty-two articles were initially screened and 14 eligible articles were included in the final review. Four articles examined disulfiram, and 10 articles examined naltrexone. The studies on disulfiram were considerably older than those on naltrexone, predating contemporary scientific standards. Disulfiram in combination with substantial contingencies in a supervised setting significantly reduced alcohol-related measures of consumption and recidivism and had acceptable safety and tolerability. All naltrexone studies showed significant reductions in alcohol-related measures, but effects on recidivism were mixed. The naltrexone studies indicated that it was highly acceptable and well tolerated. In addition, offenders receiving naltrexone had significantly greater medication adherence, treatment attendance, and treatment duration than with placebo. A small number of studies on pharmacological interventions for AUD in the correctional population suggest that MAT is effective in reducing alcohol consumption, although results on recidivism are mixed. On balance, the evidence was more supportive of naltrexone in reducing alcohol-related outcomes than disulfiram and it may also be a more feasible intervention in correctional settings. Further research on MAT to address AUD in correctional populations with larger sample sizes, longer duration, and in combination with behavioral interventions is warranted.

Risk Assessment and Post-Release Recidivism in a Sample of Juvenile Homicide Offenders.

Given recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings regarding the constitutionality of juveniles who received mandated life sentences, questions have arisen in the field of criminology regarding how these offenders will adjust if someday released. Risk scores were calculated for 59 male juvenile homicide offenders (JHOs) based upon the eight domains in the Youth Level of Supervision/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) and used to examine recidivism among the 48 JHOs who were released. Sample subjects were charged as adults for murder and attempted murder in the 1980s, convicted, and sentenced to adult prison. Chi-square analyses were used to assess the relationship between risk score category and two measures of recidivism, which were general arrests and violent offenses. Results indicated risk scores failed to predict both general and violent recidivism. Implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed.

What About the Kids? Examining the Visitation-Recidivism Relationship Among Incarcerated Juveniles

Although the visitation-recidivism relationship has been studied extensively among adult correctional populations, it has received little attention among incarcerated juveniles. In this study, we use a diverse sample of youth released from confinement in Florida ( N = 7,296) to examine the effects of visitation and visitation consistency on two measures of recidivism—re-arrest and re-adjudication. We also consider whether the visitation-recidivism relationship varies depending upon youths’ risk for reoffending (as determined by sociodemographic, offense history, and family risk factors). The results indicate that, for the average juvenile, visitation is associated with a marginal reduction in the likelihood of recidivism, and that the effects are more pronounced for high-risk youth. These results underscore the importance of targeting the most at-risk youth for programming options within correctional facilities and suggest the need for continued availability of visitation programming generally.

Conditions of Contact: Reexamining the Relationship between Prison Visitation and Recidivism

While in prison, incarcerated persons can be subjected to qualitatively different conditions of confinement ranging from minimum to maximum security settings. In this study, we use data on 17,542 incarcerated men to assess whether the relationship between visitation and recidivism varies across the types of settings (i.e. minimum, medium, close, and maximum custody units) in which individuals are housed and receive their visits. We find that the relationship between prison visitation and rearrest varies across conditions of confinement, and that this association is highly attenuated for individuals confined in close and maximum security units. We also find that these patterns are robust to alternate various measures of recidivism (reconviction and return to prison) and visitation (frequency and timing). These results raise questions about the nature and effectiveness of visitation in highly restrictive settings, and suggest that an ecological framework should be applied to future studies of prison visitation and recidivism.

Specialization in Criminal Courts: Decision Making, Recidivism, and Re-victimization in Domestic Violence Courts in Tennessee

Local governments increasingly rely on “specialized” or “problem solving” courts as a way to improve the provision of criminal justice. Using administrative data on misdemeanor DV cases between 2000 and 2006, we exploit the arbitrary courtroom assignment of low-income defendants to evaluate the social impact of specialized domestic violence courts in the General Sessions Court of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. We find that, compared to traditional court, defendants assigned to specialized court are less likely to be convicted, but no more likely to be charged with a future crime 1 to 3 years later. This offenderfocused measure of recidivism masks a potentially important increase in safety. Police records suggest that victims in cases assigned to specialized court are less likely to be involved in a future domestic incident. Conditional on future police involvement, these same victims appear to be more willing to cooperate with police and prosecutors