Program Evaluation of the Pine Lodge Pre-Release Residential Therapeutic Community for Women Offenders in Washington State, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 196670
• Author(s): Clayton Mosher Ph.D.; Dretha Phillips Ph.D.
• Date Published: November 2001
• Length: 131 pages
• Grant Number(s): 99-RT-VX-K001
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

This report presents the purpose, methods, results, and implications of an evaluation of the Pine Lodge Pre-release Therapeutic Community for Women Offenders in Washington State (Pine Lodge).

Abstract

The target population for the Pine Lodge substance-abuse treatment program consists of women offenders who have been screened and identified as having a serious substance abuse problem and who have at least 7 months, but not more than 12 months, to serve on their sentences. Maximum capacity for the program is 72 residents, with members of the therapeutic community living together and separated from the rest of the general prison population in a wing of the facility. Following similar therapeutic community models that have proven successful in the treatment of substance abusers, the Pine Lodge program views addiction as a biopsychosocial disease. The program's goal is to restructure and develop prosocial cognitive, behavioral, and affective skills of addicted women offenders. The program uses peer encounter groups; behavioral modification and therapy; social and problem-solving skills training; rational emotive, cognitive, and assertiveness training; anger and aggression management; and educational training. For each participant, staff record individual histories, progress through the program, rule infractions, and the results of urinalysis. The evaluation focused on factors that affected successful completion of the program and outcomes (recidivism for Pine Lodge participants compared with a matched control group). Primary, qualitative data derived from extensive onsite observations were supplemented with secondary, quantitative data culled from periodic reports from the facility and the Washington State Department of Corrections. The evaluation found that women who participated in the Pine Lodge program, when compared with a matched control group, were less likely to be convicted of a new offense upon release. The women who successfully completed the treatment program were the least likely to be convicted of a new offense after release. Recommendations for program improvement are offered. 11 exhibits, 83 references, and appended evaluation and program forms