Recidivism rates were compared in two groups of male offenders from a medium-security state prison. Offenders in the first group (n = 55) voluntarily participated in a cognitive-behavioral treatment program that addressed “thinking errors” related to criminal behavior. A second group of offenders (n = 141) from the same facility, who did not participate in the treatment program, served as a comparison group. A significant difference in recidivism was observed between the groups, with 50% of the offenders from the treatment group recidivating, compared to 70.8% of the comparison group. More favorable results for the program were observed when these data were subjected to survival analyses and implications. Practical limitations of the present study for the treatment of a general population of incarcerated offenders are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abel, G. , Becker, J., Cunningham-Rather, J., Rouleau, J., Kaplan, M., Reich, J. (1984). Treatment of child molesters. Unpublished manuscript, Emory University, Atlanta.
2.
Andrews, D. , & Bonta, J. (1994). The psychology of criminal conduct. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson.
3.
Andrews, D. , Bonta, J., & Hoge, R. (1990). Classification for effective rehabilitation: Rediscovering psychology. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 17, 19-52.
4.
Andrews, D. , Zinger, I., Hoge, R., Bonta, J., Gendreau, P., & Cullen, F. (1990). Does correctional treatment work? A clinically relevant and psychologically informed meta-analysis. Criminology, 28, 369-404.
5.
Beck, J. , & Hoffman, P. (1976). Time served and release performance: A research note. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 13, 127-132.
6.
Berecochea, J. , Jaman, D., & Jones, W. (1973). Time served in prison and parole outcome: An experimental study. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Corrections.
7.
Berliner, L. , LaCourse, D., & Riveland, C. (1994). Three strikes and you're out: Will the community be safer?Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 9, 420-426.
8.
Bush, J. (in press). Teaching self-risk management to violent offenders. In J. McGuire (Ed.), What works: Effective methods to reduce re-offending. Sussex, England: Wiley.
9.
Bush, J. , & Bilodeau, B. (1993). Options: A cognitive change program. Longmont, CO: National Institute of Corrections.
10.
Cox, D. (1972). Regression models and life tables. Journal of the Statistical Society, 34, 187-220.
11.
Gendreau, P. , & Ross, R. (1979). Effective correctional treatment: Bibliotherapy for cynics. Crime and Delinquency, 25, 463-489.
12.
Gendreau, P. , & Ross, R. (1987). Revivication of rehabilitation: Evidence for the 1980s. Justice Quarterly, 4, 349-407.
13.
Gibbs, N. (1993, December 20). Up in arms: Anger over violence. Time, 142, 18.
14.
Greenwood, P. , & Zimring, F. (1985). One more chance: The pursuit of promising intervention strategies for chronic juvenile offenders. Santa Monica, CA: RAND.
15.
Hanson, R. , Gizzarelli, R., & Scott, H. (1994). The attitudes of incest offenders: Sexual entitlement and acceptance of sex with children. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 187-202.
16.
Hart, S. , Kropp, P., & Hare, R. (1988). Performance of male psychopaths following conditional release from prison. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 227-232.
17.
Ifill, G. (1994, March 2). White House offers version of three-strikes crime bill. The New York Times, p. A13.
18.
Ingrassia, M. (1993, November 22). Growing up fast and frightened. Newsweek, 122, 52.
19.
Izzo, R. , & Ross, R. (1990). Meta-analysis of rehabilitation programs for juvenile delinquents: A brief report. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 17, 134-142.
20.
Klein, S. , & Caggiano, M. (1986). The prevalence, predictability, and policy implications of recidivism. Santa Monica, CA: RAND.
21.
Laws, D. (Ed.). (1988). Relapse prevention with sex offenders. New York: Guilford.
22.
Luke, D. (1993). Charting the process of change: A primer on survival analysis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 21, 203-246.
23.
Maltz, M. (1984). Recidivism. New York: Academic Press.
24.
Marlatt, G. , & Gordon, J. (Eds.). (1985). Relapse prevention: Maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviors. New York: Guilford.
25.
Marques, J. , Day, D., Nelson, C., & West, M. (1994). Effects of cognitive-behavioral treatment on sex offender recidivism: Preliminary results of a longitudinal study. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 21, 28-54.
26.
Martinson, R. (1974). What works? Questions and answers about prison reform. The Public Interest, 35, 22-54.
27.
McCorkle, R. (1993). Punish and rehabilitate? Public attitudes toward six common crimes. Crime & Delinquency, 39, 240-252.
28.
Murphy, W. (1990). Assessment and modification of cognitive distortions in sex offenders. In W. Marshall, D. Laws, & H. Barbaree (Eds.), Handbook of sexual assault: Issues, theories, and treatment of the offender (pp. 331-342). New York: Plenum.
29.
Murphy, W. , Coleman, E., & Haynes, M. (1986). Factors related to coercive sexual behavior in a nonclinical sample of males. Violence and Victims, 1, 255-278.
30.
Palmer, T. (1983). The “effectiveness” issue today: An overview. Federal Probation, 46, 3-10.
31.
Roberts, S. (1994, April 4). Praying for an end to a wave of fear: Release of rapist Melvin Carter to Modoc County, California. U.S. News and World Report, 116, 4.
32.
Ross, R. , & Fabiano, E. (1985). Time to think: A cognitive model of delinquency prevention and offender rehabilitation. Johnson City, TN: Institute of Social Sciences and Arts.
33.
Ross, R. , Fabiano, E., & Ewles, C. (1988). Reasoning and rehabilitation. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 32, 29-35.
34.
Schmidt, P. , & Witte, A. (1988). Predicting recidivism using survival models. New York: Springer.
35.
Singer, J. , & Willett, J. (1991). Modeling the days of our lives: Using survival analysis when designing and analyzing longitudinal studies of duration and the timing of events. Psychological Bulletin, 110, 268-290.
36.
Steffensmeier, D. , & Harer, M. (1993). Bulging prisons, an aging U.S. population, and the nation's violent crime rate. Federal Probation, 57, 3-10.
37.
U.S. Bureau of the Census . (1992). 1990 census of housing: General housing characteristics, Vermont (GPO Pub. No. 92-0508-PC). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics, and Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census.
38.
U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics . (1985). Examining recidivism (NCJ-96501). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
39.
U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics . (1987). Recidivism of young parolees (NCJ-104916). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
40.
U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics . (1989). Recidivism of prisoners released in 1983 (NCJ-116261). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
41.
U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics . (1993). Survey of state prison inmates, 1991 (NCJ-136949). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
42.
U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics . (1994a). Criminal victimization in the United States, 1992 (NCJ-145125). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
43.
U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics . (1994b). Mid-year prisoners release, 1994 (NCJ-151168). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
44.
Vermont Department of Corrections . (1994). Facts and figures. Waterbury, VT: Author.
45.
Weisz, J. , Walter, B., Weiss, B., Fernandez, G., & Mikow, V. (1990). Arrests among emotionally disturbed violent and assaultive individuals following minimal versus lengthy intervention through North Carolina's Willie M. program. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 58, 720-728.
46.
Withrow, P. (1994). Cognitive restructuring: An approach to dealing with violent inmates. Corrections Today, 56, 112-116.
47.
Yochelson, S. , & Samenow, S. (1976). The criminal personality: A profile for change. New York: Aronson.
48.
Yochelson, S. , & Samenow, S. (1977). The criminal personality: The change process. New York: Aronson.
49.
Zimmerman, S. , Van Alstyne, D., & Dunn, C. (1988). The national punishment survey and public policy consequences. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 25, 120-149.
