Dosage matters: the role of community corrections interventions on client recidivism
Date
2020
Authors
Naday Walker, Alexandra, author
Shelley, Tara O'Connor, advisor
Hogan, Michael, committee member
Opsal, Tara, committee member
Harman, Jennifer, committee member
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Abstract
For the last 50 years, effective correctional programs and interventions have been defined by their ability to lower recidivism rates. There is considerable research about what works to reduce an individual's risk for recidivism, yet recidivism rates remain high. The revolving door within the criminal justice system comes with tremendous economic and social costs for individuals, their families, and communities and therefore understanding the impact that interventions have on long term outcomes has become a primary focus area for researchers in the justice space. Using risk/need/responsivity theory as a framework, this study examined the impact of the intensity of nonclinical and clinical interventions, clinical dosage hours, and case management meetings on one- and two-year recidivism outcomes. This study seeks to broaden our understanding of the dosage literature by examining a sample of offenders placed in an open (full access to community with expectations of employment and other responsibilities while in treatment), residential, community corrections (halfway house) setting. The final sample for this study includes 147 adult male and female offenders who successfully discharged from two community corrections (halfway house) programs in Colorado. Findings support prior research suggesting an inverse relationship between clinical dosage hours and recidivism. While the results demonstrated a lack of support for the relationship between nonclinical interventions and recidivism reduction, the intensity of clinical interventions provided to clients were statistically significant at both one- and two- years post program completion. Finally, the results indicate that regular case management meetings play an important role in recidivism reduction.
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Subject
dosage
recidivism
interventions
community corrections