NCJ Number
200479
Journal
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Review Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: 2003 Pages: 1-5
Date Published
2003
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses female offenders participating in moral reconation therapy (MRT) within prison-based therapeutic communities (TCs).
Abstract
Moral reconation therapy, developed in 1985, is a cognitive-behavioral method designed to be employed in prison TCs. Because of the ease of its implementation and the cost benefits, the method has spread to every area of treatment as well as every venue of treatment. The current program uses all of the traditional components of a TC including behavioral management techniques, rewards and punishments, various groups, and a peer hierarchy designed to instill responsible behavior. MRT is used in several weekly groups and clients are assigned to other programmatic treatments based on individualized treatment plans. Other treatment elements include anger management, relapse prevention, parenting, codependency, and drug education. This study reports on female offenders participating in MRT within a prison TC from November 1999 to August 28, 2002. Clients were categorized as “stayers” or dropouts for the purposes of statistical analysis. The five tests used in the study were the Prison Locus of Control, the Life Purpose Questionnaire, the Short Sensation-Seeking Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Defining Issues Test. The results reveal a program that has adapted and changed in that program completion rates have dramatically increased and dropouts have dramatically decreased. Seventy percent of all clients complete three MRT steps or more. It is appropriate to surmise that the program is producing beneficial changes in the vast majority of participants, whether they complete the program or not. The results of the pre- and post-tests support this. Program participants tend to show significantly more internal locus of control scores with a moderately strong correlation to the number of MRT steps completed. Participants experience significantly enhanced life purpose from participation in the program; and tend to perceive more support from friends as a result of program participation and MRT step completion. These results would tend to predict lower recidivism rates in participants. Future analyses can address this issue when recidivism data becomes available. 9 references