The effectiveness of motivational interviewing with offenders: an outcome evaluation.
Motivational Interviewing
April 2021
Full Citation
Austin, K., Williams, M., & Kilgour, G. (2011). The effectiveness of motivational interviewing with offenders : an outcome evaluation. New Zealand Journal of Psychology (Christchurch. 1983), 40(1), 55–67.
Abstract
This research evaluated the effectiveness of an adaptation of motivational interviewing (the Short Motivational Programme) to enhance motivation to change in a high risk offender sample. The Short Motivational Programme (SMP) aimed to increase offenders' motivation to change prior to their release from prison. An outcome evaluation was conducted using a quasi-experimental repeated measures within-group design. Participants consisted of 38 male offenders, deemed to be at a high risk of recidivism, from two New Zealand prisons. Offenders' motivation to change significantly increased from pre- to post-SMP and a follow-up group showed this change was maintained 3-12 months after the programme. The results provided preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of SMP to increase the motivation to change of high risk offenders.