Significant Reductions In Recidivism Research Articles

A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Programs in Reducing Recidivism: A Global Perspective

Restorative justice (RJ) is a growing alternative to traditional punitive justice, emphasizing offender accountability, victim reparation, and community reintegration. This meta-analysis aims to quantify the effectiveness of RJ programs in reducing recidivism across diverse global contexts. A systematic search of electronic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO) from 2018-2024 was conducted, including studies that assessed the impact of RJ on recidivism using experimental or quasi-experimental designs. The primary outcome was recidivism (any reoffense), with secondary outcomes of violent and non-violent recidivism. Random effects models were used to calculate pooled effect sizes. Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria (N = 18,654 participants). The overall pooled effect size for RJ on recidivism was -0.11 (95% CI -0.15, -0.07), indicating a small but statistically significant reduction in recidivism compared to traditional justice. Subgroup analyses revealed greater effects for youth offenders (-0.16) and for programs with high adherence to core RJ principles (-0.18). In conclusion, RJ programs demonstrate a modest but consistent effect in reducing recidivism. The findings support the continued implementation and expansion of RJ, particularly for young offenders and in settings with strong adherence to RJ philosophy.

Did They Move on? An Outcome Evaluation of the Gender-Responsive Program, Girls...Moving On

The current study is an outcome evaluation of the gender-responsive program, Girls...Moving On (GMO). Outcomes for treatment ( n = 135) and control group ( n = 135) participants reflected mixed findings, with no significant reductions in recidivism, which may have been due to problems with implementation. Nevertheless, girls who completed the program had significantly larger reductions in risk scores and increases in strength scores compare to non-completers, but little to no differences in recidivism. Additionally, GMO completers showed improvements in self-efficacy scores. Several implications and considerations regarding the outcomes are discussed to guide future gender-responsive programs for system-impacted girls.

The impact of Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts (JDTC) implementing Federal Evidence-Based Guidelines on recidivism and substance use: multisite Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) and Regression Discontinuity (RDD) Designs

BackgroundJuvenile drug treatment courts (JDTC) have struggled to define themselves since their inception in 1995. Early courts followed a format similar to adult drug courts, but these did not address the unique needs of juveniles, which led to the creation of 16 Strategies by a consensus panel of practitioners and researchers. But, like the first JDTCs, research with courts following these strategies failed to provide convincing evidence that this “model” was associated with significant reductions in recidivism or drug use. More recently, a new set of evidence-based guidelines were developed through meta-analyses commissioned by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP, 2016).MethodOJJDP provided funding for a rigorous multi-site evaluation of the guidelines. This study protocol paper for the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court (JDTC) Guidelines Cross-Site Evaluation presents research designs for the comparison of youth outcomes from 10 JDTCs compared with 10 Traditional Juvenile Courts (TJCs) in the same jurisdictions. Two sites opted into a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and eight sites chose to follow a regression discontinuity design (RDD). Youth data are captured at baseline, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups using an interview comprised of several standardized assessments. The youths’ official records also are abstracted for recidivism and substance use information. The degree to which the evidence-based guidelines are implemented at each site is assessed via an in-depth court self-assessment collected at baseline and again 2 years later and via structured site visits conducted once during implementation.DiscussionAs a field-based trial, using both RCT and RDD designs, findings will provide important, policy-relevant information regarding the implementation of the OJJDP evidence-based guidelines, including the degree to which JDTCs adopted and/or modified these practices, their relative impact on recidivism and substance use, as well as the degree to which JDTCs differ from TJCs. Specific inferences may be drawn about whether following or not following specific guidelines differentially impact youth outcomes, yielding recommendations about the translation of this information from research-to-practice for potentiating the broader adoption of these guidelines by JDTCs nationwide.Clinical trials registrationThis was not an NIH supported trial. The funder, OJJDP/NIJ, instead required publishing the design with even more information at https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/juvenile-drug-treatment-court-jdtc-guidelines-cross-site-evaluation.

Effectiveness of psychological interventions in prison to reduce recidivism: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

SummaryBackgroundRepeat offending, also known as criminal recidivism, in people released from prison has remained high over many decades. To address this, psychological treatments have been increasingly used in criminal justice settings; however, there is little evidence about their effectiveness. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in prison to reduce recidivism after release.MethodsFor this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Global Health, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for articles published from database inception to Feb 17, 2021, without any language restrictions. We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effect of psychological interventions, delivered to adolescents and adults during incarceration, on recidivism outcomes after release. We excluded studies of solely pharmacological interventions and of participants in secure psychiatric hospitals or special residential units, or attending therapies mainly delivered outside of the prison setting. We extracted summary estimates from eligible RCTs. Data were extracted and appraised according to a prespecified protocol, with effect sizes converted to odds ratios. We used a standardised form to extract the effects of interventions on recidivism and estimated risk of bias for each RCT. Planned sensitivity analyses were done by removing studies with fewer than 50 participants. Our primary outcome was recidivism. Data from individual RCTs were combined in a random-effects meta-analysis as pooled odds ratios (ORs) and we explored sources of heterogeneity by comparing effect sizes by study size, control group, and intervention type. The protocol was pre-registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020167228.FindingsOf 6345 articles retrieved, 29 RCTs (9443 participants, 1104 [11·7%] females, 8111 [85·9%] males, and 228 [2·4%] unknown) met the inclusion criteria for the primary outcome. Mean ages were 31·4 years (SD 4·9, range 24·5–41·5) for adult participants and 17·5 years (SD 1·9; range 14·6–20·2) for adolescent participants. Race or ethnicity data were not sufficiently reported to be aggregated. If including all 29 RCTs, psychological interventions were associated with reduced reoffending outcomes (OR 0·72, 95% CI 0·56–0·92). However, after excluding smaller studies (<50 participants in the intervention group), there was no significant reduction in recidivism (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0·68–1·11). Based on two studies, therapeutic communities were associated with decreased rates of recidivism (OR 0·64, 95% CI 0·46–0·91). These risk estimates did not significantly differ by type of control group and other study characteristics.InterpretationWidely implemented psychological interventions for people in prison to reduce offending after release need improvement. Publication bias and small-study effects appear to have overestimated the reported modest effects of such interventions, which were no longer present when only larger studies were included in analyses. Findings suggest that therapeutic communities and interventions that ensure continuity of care in community settings should be prioritised for future research. Developing new treatments should focus on addressing modifiable risk factors for reoffending.FundingWellcome Trust, Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé.

The 40-year debate: a meta-review on what works for juvenile offenders

ObjectivesThis meta-review integrates the findings of meta-analyses and systematic reviews to explore the effect of intervention programs on recidivism for juvenile offenders.MethodsThe systematic literature search gathered 48 meta-analyses and systematic reviews from 53 research reports, contributing 56 independent effect sizes for analysis. These effect sizes were statistically integrated, and five moderators of theoretical and methodological importance were tested using meta-regression.ResultsOn average, intervention programs are associated with a significant reduction in recidivism (rΦ = −0.09, p < 0.001) for juvenile offenders who participate in a program compared to those who do not. However, reductions in recidivism significantly vary between the levels of criminal justice system, characteristics of juvenile offenders, types of program modalities, and methodological quality.ConclusionsResults indicate that intervention programs can be an effective approach to reducing recidivism for juvenile offenders, especially when combined with a rehabilitative program modality.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of noninstitutional psychosocial interventions to prevent juvenile criminal recidivism.

To assess the effectiveness of noninstitutional psychosocial interventions in preventing recidivism among criminal adolescents. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials assessing the impact on recidivism among juveniles aged 12-17. The included studies had a low to medium risk of bias and were published between 2000 and 2019. Standardized mean differences or risk differences were calculated. We included 35 (20 randomized, 15 nonrandomized) studies evaluating 17 unique, noninstitutional psychosocial interventions. A meta-analysis found no significant reductions in recidivism for studied interventions compared to control conditions. Although single studies suggested some positive effects, the evidence provided by these studies was found to have very low certainty. Post hoc analyses indicated that studies including a low-intensity control condition might have stronger relative intervention effects compared to studies with medium or high-intensity control conditions. This systematic review did not find any one noninstitutional psychosocial intervention to be more effective than control treatments in reducing future criminality among juvenile offenders aged 12-17. We discuss the implications of the present findings for social work and child and adolescent psychiatry practices. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Good Jobs and Recidivism

I estimate the impact of employment opportunities on recidivism among 1.7 million offenders released from a California prison between 1993 and 2008. The institutional structure of the California criminal justice system as well as location, skill, and industry-specific job accession data provide a unique framework for identifying a causal effect of job availability on criminal behaviour. I find that increases in construction and manufacturing opportunities at the time of release are associated with significant reductions in recidivism. Other types of opportunities, including those characterised by lower wages that are typically accessible to individuals with criminal records, do not influence recidivism.

Race and Gender Recidivism Differences Among Juvenile Mental Health Court Graduates

AbstractGrounded in the theory of therapeutic jurisprudence, this research explores whether recidivism differs by race, ethnicity, or gender among juvenile mental health court graduates (N = 63). Mean number of pre‐program offenses were compared to the mean number of offenses committed by program completion. Results showed statistically significant reductions in recidivism by both males (p &lt; .001) and females (p &lt; .003). Racial and ethnic minorities demonstrated larger reductions when compared to Whites (p &lt; .001 for Hispanics and p &lt; .01 for combined ethnicities). These results contribute to the literature on effective intervention models for diverse juvenile offender populations.

Risk assessment matters, but only when implemented well: A multisite study in juvenile probation.

There is a strong movement toward juvenile justice agencies' use of risk assessment and risk-need-responsivity approaches to improve case management decisions for young offenders. However, little is known about whether adoption of risk assessment actually effectuates any changes in the way young offenders are handled. This was a multisite study of the impact on case processing of implementation of the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) or Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory in 6 juvenile probation offices using a prepost design and 1,694 propensity score-matched young offenders. Consistent with the risk principle, there were significant changes to at least some areas of case processing in all but 1 site, most notably with respect to decreases in the amount of supervision youth received and in rates of out-of-home placement. The nature and extent of the impact varied as a function of sites' characteristics and implementation quality, not as a function of the risk assessment used. No increases in recidivism were observed in any site, and there was a significant reduction in recidivism in 1 site. The key benefits of implementation of valid risk assessment and case management procedures were improved resource allocation and fewer instances of inappropriate interference in youths' lives without an apparent increased risk to public safety. (PsycINFO Database Record

The effects of health care-based violence intervention programs on injury recidivism and costs: A systematic review.

Youth violence affects thousands annually, with homicide being the third leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 24 years. This systematic review aims to evaluate the published evidence for the effects of health care-based violence intervention programs (VIPs), which focus on reducing recurrent presentations for injury due to youth violence ("recidivism"). Health literature databases were searched. Studies were retained if peer reviewed and if programs were health care based, focused on intentional injury, addressed secondary or tertiary prevention (i.e., preventing recidivism and reducing complications), included participants aged 14 to 25 years, had greater than 1-month follow-up, and evaluated outcomes. Studies of child and sexual abuse and workplace, intimate partner, and self-inflicted violence were excluded. Extracted data subject to qualitative analysis included enrollment and retention, duration of follow-up, services provided, statistical analysis, and primary and intermediate outcomes. Of the 2,144 citations identified, 22 studies were included in the final sample. Twelve studies were randomized controlled trials representing eight VIPs. Injury recidivism was assessed in six (75%) of eight programs with a significant reduction in one (17%) of six programs. Of the randomized controlled trials showing no difference in recidivism, all were either underpowered or did not include a power analysis. Two observational studies also showed significant reduction in recidivism. Significant intermediate outcomes included increased service use, attitude change, and decreases in violence-related behavior. Reductions in injury recidivism led to reductions in health care and criminal justice system costs. Three studies showing reduced injury recidivism and several studies showing positive intermediate outcomes identify VIPs as a promising practice. Many studies were limited by poor methodological quality, including high losses to follow-up. Systematic review, level III.

Integrating the Principles of Effective Intervention into Batterer Intervention Programming

The majority of batterer intervention program (BIP) evaluations have indicated they are marginally effective in reducing domestic violence recidivism. Meanwhile, correctional programs used to treat a variety of offenders (e.g., substance users, violent offenders, and so forth) that adhere to the “principles of effective intervention” (PEI) have reported significant reductions in recidivism. This article introduces the PEI—the principles on which evidence-based practices in correctional rehabilitation are based—and identifies the degree to which they are currently integrated into BIPs. The case is made that batterer programs could be more effective if they incorporate the PEI. Recommendations for further integration of the principles into BIPs are also provided.

Managing for Results in the U.S. Not‐for‐Profit Sector: Applying Complementary Approaches of Knowledge Production at the Center for Employment Opportunities

AbstractThis chapter investigates the case of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a not‐for‐profit organization dedicated to providing immediate and comprehensive employment services to persons with criminal convictions. CEO prepares returning prisoners for the workforce with strong employment‐retention outcomes and proven impacts (in a randomized control trial by MDRC) showing significant reduction in recidivism. In this chapter the authors survey how CEO manages its performance through the use of both performance measurement and monitoring and evaluation. Also, the authors argue that performance measurement and evaluation must be seen as complementary forms of knowledge production and that both need to be integral to performance management. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.

Effectiveness of Correctional Programs With Ethnically Diverse Offenders

Numerous studies have examined the effects of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) on criminal recidivism, and several meta-analyses have confirmed the overall effectiveness of this approach. Few studies, however, have examined the efficacy of these programs specifically with adult offenders from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The present research uses meta-analytic techniques to examine the outcomes for Canadian federal offenders participating in correctional programs according to self-identified ethnic group (Caucasian, Aboriginal, Black, and Other). Correctional programs within the Correctional Service of Canada adhere to the Risk, Need, Responsivity principles outlined in the effective correctional literature. Within-group analyses compared offenders from the same ethnic background who participated in correctional programs with a nontreatment comparison group. Odds ratios ranged from 1.36 to 1.76, indicating significant reductions in recidivism for offenders participating in correctional programs, regardless of ethnic status. Furthermore, the difference in effect size magnitude between ethnic groups was nonsignificant suggesting offenders from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds can benefit from correctional programs rigorously developed and implemented using a CBT framework.

Interlocks for First Offenders: Effective?

Objective. Vehicle interlocks have been shown to effectively reduce the recidivism of multiple driving-while-impaired (DWI) offenders; however, the evidence for their effectiveness with first offenders has been mixed. Two Canadian studies found that the installation of an interlock reduced first DWI recidivism, but U.S. studies in West Virginia and California failed to find a significant reduction in recidivism for first DWI offenders in interlock programs. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which such devices were effective with first offenders in New Mexico. Methods. This study compared 1,461 first offenders, who installed interlocks in New Mexico between January 1, 2003, and December 1, 2005, with 17,562 first offenders convicted during the same period who did not install the units. Cox multivariate proportional hazards regression (CMVPHR) was used to compare recidivism rates during three periods: 1. while the interlock was on the vehicles of offenders who installed them, 2. after those offenders removed the units until the end of the study period (approximately 2 years), and 3. for the combined period (both while the interlock was installed and after it was removed). Results. While the device was on the vehicles of the interlock group, their recidivism rate, 2.6% per year of exposure, was significantly less than the 7.1% per year rate of the comparison group (CMVPHR hazard ratio = 0.39, p < 0.0001). After the device was removed, the annualized recidivism rate of the interlock group increased to 4.9% per year of exposure, which was less than the 6.7% rate of the comparison group, but the hazard ratio was not statistically significant (CMVPHR hazard ratio = 0.82, p = 0.16). When the combined periods (interlock on and off) were considered, the interlock group had a recidivism rate of 3.9% per year, which again was significantly lower than the 6.8% rate for the comparison group (CMVPHR hazard ratio = 0.61, p < 0.0001). Conclusion. The study provides evidence that interlocks are as effective with first offenders (approximately 60% reduction in recidivism when on the vehicle) as they are for multiple offenders. In addition, the benefits of requiring an interlock for first offenders exceed the costs by a factor of three.

The Effectiveness of Community Service Sentences Compared to Traditional Fines for Low-Level Offenders

Relatively little research in the United States has examined the effectiveness of community service (CS) sentences among adult offenders, despite use of this alternative sanction for nearly 40 years. What little research exists, primarily from Europe, suggests that CS may not yield significant reductions in recidivism when compared to incarceration; however, much of this research suffers from important methodological limitations. This study employs a more rigorous evaluation design and a more appropriate comparison sample of offenders sentenced to pay traditional monetary fines. Results reveal that those who participate in CS sentences are less likely to experience post-program recidivism, controlling for several initial group differences. Limitations of the design and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

Program Completion and Recidivism Outcomes Among Adult Offenders Ordered to Complete a Community Service Sentence

Relatively little research has examined the outcomes (either program completion or recidivism) of community service (CS) sentences among adult offenders in the United States, despite the fact that this form of alternative sanction has been employed in the United States for nearly 40 years. What little research exists, primarily from Europe, suggests that community service may not yield significant reductions in recidivism. Increased use of community service in this country is suggested to have several potential benefits including the alleviation of jail crowding, reduction of correctional costs, as well as provision of credible intermediate punishment. Reductions in crowding and associated costs depend, however, on CS being utilized with incarceration-bound offenders and also that these offenders be managed under this community-based sanction without risk to public safety. This study finds that several characteristics indicative of more “serious” offenders (e.g., criminal history and other personal characteristics) are related to lower likelihood of program completion. Initial evidence also suggests that among those receiving this type of sentence, program completion reduces recidivism risk, controlling for the underlying propensity to complete the sentence. Limitations of the design and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

The multifactor offender readiness model

There has been a resurgence of interest in the rehabilitation of offenders. Research has consistently shown that rehabilitation programs for offenders, when they adhere to general principles of program design and delivery, will achieve significant reductions in recidivism. In this paper, we suggest that even greater reductions in recidivism can be achieved when readiness is addressed at the level of the individual offender, the program, and the context. A comprehensive understanding of readiness allows for fuller engagement in treatment, thus increasing probability of good treatment outcomes. We describe person, program, and context factors in a model of offender treatment readiness and discuss implications of the model for both assessment of offenders and for modification of low readiness.

Prisons in crisis : William L. Selke Indiana University Press (601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47404), 1993, 156 pp., hardcover—$25.00, softcover— $9.95

In thinking about the area of correctional treatment and rehabilitation, one must understand the context from which the discipline emerged. Not long ago, in the 1970s, most criminal justice scholars felt that rehabilitation was a fruitless effort that had no impact on offender behavior. This sentiment was the result of several sociopolitical factors, but one was particularly potent when several research studies failed to find “treatment” interventions (many of which would never be called “treatment” by today’s standards) successful with offender populations.However, with advances in cognitive and behavioral psychology, as well as statistical innovations in the use of meta-analytic techniques, a wealth of evidence now exists that supports the idea that antisocial offenders can change for the better, and that treatment interventions increase public safety. Indeed, over 1000 research studies demonstrate that significant reductions in recidivism occur when optimal conditions are in place. These conditions are referred to as the principles of effective intervention, and have been invaluable to correctional staff who now have a guide for understanding which offenders should receive the most intensive treatment (moderate- to high-risk offenders; this is called the risk principle), which offender problems to target (criminogenic needs; this is called the need principle), and what modalities to use in targeting criminogenic needs (cognitive–behavioral approaches; this is the general responsivity principle). Several additional conditions should also be present, and these are detailed in Chapter 15.The principles of effective intervention essentially represent a paradigm shift in the field of criminal justice because of their implications toward policies for increasing public safety. Indeed, public safety cannot be achieved with deterrence and incapacitation strategies alone—in fact, public safety is most enhanced when prevention and rehabilitation strategies are adopted. So-called “punishing smarter” programs do not work, no matter how much sense they might make to scare offenders straight.

Community care for the kibbutz chronic psychiatric patient

After over 15 years' experience with a very structured community care program for kibbutz chronic psychiatric patients, the author is convinced that these severely disturbed patients show improved psychosocial adjustment and a highly significant reduction in recidivism and rehospitalization as compared to their records before the institution of the community treatment program.