NCJ Number
230510
Date Published
May 2009
Length
206 pages
Annotation
This study examined which community corrections centers were most effective in reducing recidivism in Pennsylvania.
Abstract
This study evaluated program level and individual level data from 54 reentry programs in Pennsylvania to determine which program characteristics were most effective at reducing the rate of recidivism in the State. Of the 54 programs, 41 were community corrections facilities (CCFs) and 13 were community corrections centers (CCCs). The study results indicate that, overall, the parolees in the CCF treatment programs did not demonstrate a significantly lower recidivism rate than the comparison group. In addition, the CCC programs, which conducted fewer treatment programs, were found overall to have lower recidivism rates than the CCF programs. The analysis also found significant differences in the way services were delivered between the two program types. The CCC programs generally had fewer interactions between offenders of various risk levels than did the CCF programs, which might be the reason for the higher recidivism rates in the CCF treatment groups. These results show that it was not the treatment programs themselves which resulted in poor recidivism rates, but rather the delivery of the services in the treatment programs. Recommendations for future research are discussed along with limitations of the study. Tables, charts, figures, references, and appendixes