NCJ Number
216085
Journal
Criminology & Public Policy Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 575-594
Date Published
August 2006
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study drew on data from 38 halfway houses (HWH) in Ohio to examine the relationship between correctional program integrity and program effectiveness.
Abstract
Results indicated a fairly strong correlation between program integrity and program effectiveness. Specifically, the results revealed that, taken as a whole, the 38 HWH programs demonstrated limited effectiveness, although significant differences emerged in the ability of the HWH program to reduce recidivism. The findings suggest that program implementation, offender assessment, and evaluation are important in determining the effectiveness of correctional programming. Data on 3,237 offenders who were enrolled in 1 of 38 community-based residential programs as part of their parole requirements were compared to data on a matched group of 3,237 offenders under parole who were not placed in residential programming. Staff surveys and interviews with program directors provided data on program characteristics and treatment integrity. Program effectiveness was measured using recidivism rates of the treatment and comparison groups for each program. Recidivism data were based on incarceration rates collected from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction at a 2-year follow-up period. Data were examined using statistical analyses. Future research should continue to probe the relationship between program integrity and program effectiveness in order to develop sound correctional programming options in both community-based and institutional settings. Tables, figure, footnotes, references