NCJ Number
230511
Date Published
November 2009
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This executive summary provides an overview of a study conducted by the University of Cincinnati to evaluate the program integrity of five treatment programs within the State of Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections.
Abstract
The University of Cincinnati conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of 5 treatment programs in the 24 State correctional institutions in the State of Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections. The five programs were assessed to identify the effectiveness of each at providing evidence-based services to offenders. The Evidence-Based Correctional Program Checklist (CPC) and the Evidence-Based Correctional Program Checklist-Group Assessment (CPC-GA) were used to measure program integrity. Data were collected from structured interviews with program directors, unit managers, group facilitators, correctional counselors and officers, and program participants. Other sources of information included review of program materials and case files, observations of treatment groups, and results from a general staff survey. Results of the program evaluations showed that all but three of the institutions scored in the needs improvement (46-54 percent) and effective (55-64 percent) ranges on the CPC and the CPC-GA. Across all individual treatment programs, the CPC and CPC-GA scores ranged from 37.5 percent (ineffective) to 77.8 percent (highly effective), with an overall mean of 54.9 percent, just below the effective range. Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the programs are discussed.