The present study sought to evaluate the influence of interactive journaling on criminal recidivism and identify significant predictors of recidivism among a sample of 183 male inmates incarcerated in a local jail facility randomly assigned to either an interactive journaling condition or a control group. All participants met DSM-IV-TR criteria for substance dependence, had their current offense indicate substance involvement, and had a minimum of one previous arrest in the prior 12 months. The recidivism rate (51%), in terms of subsequent bookings within a 12-month period, for the journaling group was significantly lower than the recidivism rate (66%) for the control group, χ2(1, 183) = 4.13, p < .05. The three most significant independent predictors of subsequent bookings were severity of posttraumatic stress disorder, group assignment (journaling vs. placebo), and employment status. Interactive journaling appears to show promise as a brief treatment intervention strategy for substance dependence in local jail settings and may have the potential for reducing recidivism.
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
2.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
3.
AndrewsD. A.BontaJ.WormithJ. S. (2006). The recent past and near future of risk and/or need assessment. Crime & Delinquency, 52, 7-27. doi:10.1177/001112870528175610.1177/0011128705281756
4.
BontaJ.LawM.HansonK. (1998). The prediction of criminal and violent recidivism among mentally disordered offenders: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 123, 123-142. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.123.2.12310.1037/0033-2909.123.2.123
5.
BronerN.LattimoreP. K.CowellA. J.SchlengerW. (2004). Effects of diversion on adults with co-occurring mental illness and substance use: Outcomes from a multi-site study. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 22, 519-541. doi:10.1002/bsl.60510.1002/bsl.605
6.
CampS. D.DaggettD. M.KwonO.Klein-SaffranJ. (2008). The effect of faith program participation on prison misconduct: The Life Connections Program. Journal of Criminal Justice, 36, 389-395. doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2008.07.00410.1016/j.jcrimjus.2008.07.004
7.
CampbellT. C.HoffmannN. G.HoffmannT. D.GillaspyJ. A. (2005). UNCOPE: A screen for substance dependence among state prison inmates. The Prison Journal, 85, 7-17. doi:10.1177/003288550427428710.1177/0032885504274287
8.
DeaverS. P.McAuliffeG. (2009). Reflective visual journaling during art therapy and counselling internships: A qualitative study. Reflective Practice, 10, 615-632. doi:10.1080/1462394090329068710.1080/14623940903290687
9.
EppS. (2008). The value of reflective journaling in undergraduate nursing education: A literature review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45, 1379-1388.
10.
FrattaroliJ. (2006). Experimental disclosure and its moderators: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 823-865. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.132.6.82310.1037/0033-2909.132.6.823
11.
HoffR.BaranoskyM. V.BuchananJ.ZonanaH.RosenheckR. A. (1999). The effects of a jail diversion program on incarceration: A retrospective cohort study. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 27, 377-386.
12.
HoffmannN. G. (2000). CAAPE (Comprehensive Addictions and Psychological Evaluation) Manual. Smithfield, RI: Evince Clinical Assessments.
13.
HoffmannN. G.HuntD. E.RhodesW. M.RileyK. J. (2003). UNCOPE: A brief substance dependence screen for use with arrestees. Journal of Drug Issues, 33, 29-44.
14.
JamesD. J.GlazeL. E. (2006). Mental health problems of prison and jail inmates, Bureau of Justice Statistics: Special report. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
15.
KarbergJ. C.JamesD. J. (2005). Substance dependence, abuse, and treatment of jail inmates, 2002. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
16.
LambertiJ. S.WeismanR. L.SchwarzkopfS. B.Mundondo-AshtonR.PriceN.TrompeterJ. (2001). The mentally ill in jails and prisons: Towards an integrated model of prevention. Psychiatric Quarterly, 72, 63-77. doi:10.1023/A:100486210410210.1023/A:1004862104102.
17.
LoudenburgR. (2008). South Dakota Public Safety DUI program: Four year evaluation report. Pierre: Office of Highway Safety, South Dakota Department of Public Safety.
ProchaskaJ. O.VelicerW. F. (1997). The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. American Journal of Health Promotion, 12, 38-48.
20.
ProctorS. L.CorwinC. J.HoffmannN. G.AllisonS. (2009). A tool to engage jail inmates: A trademarked journaling process shows promise in giving offenders insight on their substance use. Addiction Professional, 7, 22-25.
21.
ProctorS. L.HoffmannN. G.WestlundV. L. (2010). Routine addiction screening of county jail inmates. Addictions Newsletter, 17, 16-17.
22.
SabolW. J.MintonT. D.HarrisonP. M. (2008). Prison and jail inmates at midyear, 2007. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
23.
StaulcupH. J.BarthR. P. (1984). A reflective approach to alcohol prevention with adolescents. Journal of Primary Prevention, 4, 163-172.
24.
SteadmanH. J.NaplesM. (2005). Assessing the effectiveness of jail diversion programs for persons with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 23, 163-170. doi:10.1002/bsl.64010.1002/bsl.640
25.
StoneM. (1998). Journaling with clients. Journal of Individual Psychology, 54, 535-545.
26.
ZywiakW. H.HoffmannN. G.FloydA. S. (1999). Enhancing alcohol treatment outcomes through aftercare and self-help groups. Medicine & Health/Rhode Island, 82(3), 87-90.
