Assessment of a multistage therapeutic community for drug-involved offenders

Group/Peer Support

May 2021

Full Citation

Martin, S. S., Butzin, C. A., & Inciardi, J. A. (1995). Assessment of a multistage therapeutic community for drug-involved offenders. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 27(1), 109-116. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02791072.1995.10471679

Abstract

Assessed a 3-stage therapeutic community (TC) treatment program that has been instituted in the Delaware correctional system. Components in place long enough to provide follow-up data consist of a TC in prison and a transitional TC outside the prison for parolees. Baseline data at release from prison and outcome data 6 mo after release were analyzed for 457 Ss. Ss who had participated in neither of the TCs were compared with Ss who had participated in the TC in prison only, the transitional TC only, or both TCs. The latter 2 groups had significantly lower rates of drug relapse and criminal recidivism, even when adjusted for other risk factors. Outcome benefits of TC participation were also found for behaviors affecting the risk of HIV infection. Results support the efficacy of a multistage TC program and the importance of the transitional TC as a component. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)