What Works and What Doesnt in Reducing Recidivism

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What Works and What Doesnt in Reducing Recidivism

• Presented by
• Edward J. Latessa, Ph.D.
• University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute
• Division of Criminal Justice
• University of Cincinnati
• www.uc.edu/criminaljustice
• Edward.Latessa_at_uc.edu

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A Large Body of Research Has Indicated.

• .that correctional services and interventions
  can be effective in reducing recidivism for
  offenders, however, not all programs are equally
  effective
• The most effective programs are based on some
  principles of effective interventions
• Risk (Who)
• Need (What)
• Treatment (How)
• Program Integrity (How Well)

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Risk Principle

• Target those offender with higher probability of
  recidivism
• Provide more intense services to higher-risk
  offenders
• Targeting lower risk offenders can lead to
  increases in recidivism rates

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Reduced Recidivism
Increased Recidivism
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Reduced Recidivism
Increased Recidivism
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Need Principle

• Target crime producing needs and risk factors

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Major Set of Risk/Need Factors

• Antisocial/prociminal attitudes, values, beliefs
  cognitive-emotional states
• 2. Procriminal associates isolation from
  prosocial others
• 3. Temperamental anti social personality
  pattern conducive to criminal activity
• 4. A history of antisocial behavior

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Major set of Risk/Needs Continued

• 5. Family factors that include criminality a
  variety of psychological problems in the family
  of origin
• 6. Low levels of personal educational,
  vocational or financial achievement
• Low levels of involvement in prosocial leisure
  activities
• 8. Abuse of alcohol and/or drugs

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The Treatment Principle Provide Behavioral
Treatment

• Focus on current criminogenic risk/need factors
• Action oriented

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Most Effective Behavioral Models

• Structured social learning where new skills and
  behavioral are modeled
• Family based approaches that train family on
  appropriate techniques
• Cognitive behavioral approaches that target
  criminogenic risk factors

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Results from Meta Analysis Behavioral vs.
NonBehavioral
Reduced Recidivism
Increased Recidivism
Andrews, D.A. 1994. An Overview of Treatment
Effectiveness. Research and Clinical Principles,
Department of Psychology, Carleton University.
The N refers to the number of studies.
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Family Based Interventions

• Designed to train family on behavioral approaches
• Functional Family Therapy
• Multi-Systemic Therapy
• Teaching Family Model
• Strengthening Families Program (Office of
  Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)

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Effectiveness of Family Based Intervention
Results from Meta Analysis

• 38 primary studies with 53 effect tests
• Average Reduction in Recidivism 21
• However, much variability was present
• (-0.17 - 0.83)
• Dowden Andrews, 2003

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Mean Effect Sizes Whether or not the family
intervention adheres to the principles
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Recent Meta-Analysis of Cognitive Behavioral
Treatment for Offenders by Landenberger Lipsey
(2005)

• Reviewed 58 studies
• 19 random samples
• 23 matched samples
• 16 convenience samples
• Found that on average CBT reduced recidivism by
  25, but the most effective configurations found
  more than 50 reductions

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Significant Findings (effects were stronger if)

• Sessions per week (2 or more)
• Implementation monitored
• Staff trained on CBT
• Higher proportion of treatment completers
• Higher risk offenders
• Higher if CBT is combined with other services

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What Doesnt Work with Offenders?

• Talking cures
• Targeting non-criminogenic needs
• Focusing on fear and other emotional appeals
• Shaming offenders
• Non-directive, client centered approaches
• Self-Help programs
• Vague unstructured rehabilitation programs
• Medical model approaches
• Fostering self-regard (self-esteem)
• Punishing smarter (boot camps, scared straight,
  etc.)

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The Fidelity Principle Make Sure Programs Are
Delivered With Fidelity and Integrity

• Includes both external and internal quality
  assurance

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Program Integrity and Recidivism

• Every major study we have done has found a strong
  relationship between program integrity and
  recidivism
• Higher integrity score greater the reductions
  in recidivism

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Program IntegrityRelationship Between Program
Integrity Score And Treatment Effect for
Community Supervision Programs
Reduced Recidivism
Increased Recidivism
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Program IntegrityRelationship Between Program
Integrity Score And Treatment Effect for
Residential Programs
Reduced Recidivism
Increased Recidivism
70
31-59
60-69
0-30
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Impact of Program Factors Predicting Felony
Adjudication for Juvenile Programs
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Lessons Learned from the Research

• Who you put in a program is important pay
  attention to risk
• What you target is important pay attention to
  criminogenic needs
• How you target offender for change is important
  use behavioral approaches