An effective model of prison-based treatment for drug-involved offenders.

Group/Peer Support

April 2021

Full Citation

Inciardi, J. A., Martin, S. S., Butzin, C. A., Hooper, R. M., & Harrison, L. D. (1997). An effective model of prison-based treatment for drug-involved offenders. Journal of Drug Issues, 27(2), 261-278. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/002204269702700206

Abstract

Reported an analysis of a therapeutic community approach to the treatment of drug-involved offenders. In this paper, 18 mo follow-up data are analyzed for 1,002 adult prison inmates eligible for parole or work release who were interviewed just before leaving prison. The Ss received treatment in (1) a prison-based therapeutic community only, (2) a work release therapeutic community followed by aftercare, and (3) the prison-based therapeutic community followed by the work release therapeutic community and aftercare. These groups were compared with a no-treatment group. Those receiving treatment in the 2-stage (work release and aftercare) and 3-stage (prison, work release, and aftercare) models had significantly lower rates of drug relapse and criminal recidivism, even when adjusted for other risk factors. The results support the effectiveness of a multistage therapeutic community model for drug-involved offenders, and the importance of a work release transitional therapeutic community as a component of this model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)