This study was an outcome evaluation of the
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program at the Barnstable
House of Corrections in Massachusetts. The program is administered by
AdCare Criminal Justice Services. Federal guidelines require that
inmates participating in the RSAT program be separately housed and
incarcerated for 6 to 12 months, to allow enough time for effective
treatment. The objective of the program was to reduce the likelihood
of recidivism by treating substance abusive behavior through the
development of participants' cognitive, behavioral, social, and
vocational skills. This evaluation was designed to answer the
question: can a correctional program for chronic criminal offenders
deter them from committing additional crimes, despite their history of
serious disruption due to substance abuse and other factors?
This study is based on the 188 inmates referred to
the RSAT program at Barnstable between January 1, 1999, and June 6,
2001. Data on participants' criminal histories were gathered from the
Criminal History Systems Board through March 2002. Data on offender
age, entry, and discharge dates were supplied by the Barnstable County
House of Corrections. Data from offender scores on psychological
inventories and offender outcomes in the RSAT program were supplied by
AdCare Criminal Justice Services. The study employed a redundant
design that combined a single group pre-post design with one that
split the sample into two cohorts. The single-group pre-post design
tested whether the likelihood of arrest and conviction after RSAT was
reduced from the baseline likelihood of arrest and conviction in the
year prior to incarceration. The sample was divided into two cohorts
in order to compare the pre-treatment arrest and conviction records of
a 70-person control group with the post-treatment arrest and
conviction records of a 57-person treatment group. Control group
members were matched to treatment group members on the basis of RSAT
outcome (completion, early release, termination due to noncompliant
behavior) and opportunity time for offending. In order to assure that
matched subjects had the same opportunity time for offending, control
group members were matched to treatment group members who were
released one year before the control group members were incarcerated.
Criteria for referral to the RSAT program were based on
criminal record, present offenses, sentence length (at least nine
months), and other factors determined by correctional staff.
Inmates who were admitted to the Barnstable House of
Corrections between January 1, 1999, and June 6, 2001, and met the
criteria for referral to the RSAT program.
Individuals
Data on RSAT program participants were obtained from
the Criminal History Systems Board, the Barnstable County House of
Corrections, and AdCare Criminal Justice Services.
administrative records data
Variables include which cohort the subject belonged
to, whether there were any new convictions or charges since release,
number of new or pending charges after one year, release date, RSAT
program completion status, Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R)
score, Adult Substance Use Survey (ASUS) score, charges with
conviction or sentence pending, criminal history for 12 months before
incarceration, date of first offense in lifetime, admission date, date
of birth, whether participant was put on parole or probation upon
release, and whether participant was a sex offender or a domestic
violence offender.
Scales used were the Level of Service Inventory-Revised
(LSI-R) and the Adult Substance Use Survey (ASUS).