A Multi-Level Analysis of the Effects of Treatment Integrity and Program Completion on Recidivism in Residential Community Correctional Programs
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: To date, a large body of research has demonstrated empirical support for rehabilitative correctional interventions.Specifically, the literature has verified that correctional treatment services that embody the principles of effective correctional interventions and have sophisticated implementation plans tended to be more effective than others in reducing recidivism.It has also been found that those who complete treatment programs are less likely to recidivate relative to those who do not, because they benefit fully from the intervention.The question is, does the effect size of treatment completion vary depending on the level of therapeutic integrity?In order to examine the possible interaction between program completion and integrity (i.e., whether the effect of program completion was moderated by treatment integrity), a multilevel analysis was conducted with a sample of 10,072 offenders who were assigned to one of 64 residential, community-based correctional interventions in Ohio between 2006 and 2007.Recidivism was defined as a re-conviction for a new felony offense and two years of follow-up were employed.Collection of the recidivism data began in April 2009 and ended in September 2009.The results of hierarchical linear modeling analysis indicated three major findings.First, program completion by itself did guarantee success for adult offenders.Second, program integrity does matter.Among five program characteristics that were found to be related to recidivism in prior research, only treatment characteristics were linked directly to reductions in recidivism.Third, no significant interaction was found between program completion and treatment integrity; treatment integrity did not moderate (enhance or reduce) the effect of program completion on the probability of being convicted for a new felony crime.
Author: Hyejin Kim
Institution: University of Cincinnati
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2519994164