NCJ Number
238092
Journal
Legal and Criminological Psychology Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2012 Pages: 136-150
Date Published
February 2012
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Using a sample of 69 Canadian Federal male offenders on community release who dropped out of a treatment program, this study used current treatment dosage (number of sessions completed in current treatment) and past completed treatment programs in relation to reoffending.
Abstract
Among offenders who dropped out of a community-based treatment program, the number of sessions completed in the recent program was a significant predictor of recidivism. Even after accounting for risk scores, the number of sessions remained significant. Once risk scores and current treatment dosage (number of sessions completed) were taken into account, the number of past completed programs was not predictive of future recidivism. These findings suggest the importance of current treatment dosage rather than cumulative dosage over time or the number of completed programs. In this study, the treatment was delivered when study participants were relatively free to commit offenses. The findings suggest the importance of having a progressive regime of treatment that focuses on current issues and stresses that may be related to offending behavior. One of the study's limitations noted by the authors is that "dosage" may involve more variables than the number of current completed sessions. Dosage can include the intensity of programming reflected in how many hours per day/session are involved. The number of sessions per week is another aspect of dosage, as well as the level of interpersonal interactions involved in the treatment sessions. These other dosage areas should also be explored when measuring the factors that impact whether or not an offender reoffends in the context of his/her current circumstances. 4 tables and 51 references