NCJ Number
165051
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1996 Pages: 6-9
Date Published
September 1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
As the core component of living skills programs introduced in 1988 by the Correctional Service of Canada, cognitive skills training combines several state-of-the-art techniques to teach offenders the thinking skills necessary to maintain a crime-free lifestyle.
Abstract
To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive skills training, postrelease follow-up research examined a sample of 2,125 offenders who were randomly assigned to either a waiting list (n=379) or program participation groups (n=1,746). All offenders in the sample were subject to at least 12 months follow-up after release. Of the total sample, 47.4 percent were readmitted to federal custody within 1 year of release. This high recidivism rate illustrated the relatively high-risk nature of the sample offenders. About 44.5 percent of those who completed cognitive skills training were readmitted to custody, compared to 50.1 percent of the waiting list control group and 58.2 percent of those who dropped out of the program. While the cognitive skills training program seemed to have a moderate impact on recidivism, it was more successful with certain types of offenders and had no appreciable impact on others. Program effects also seemed to vary according to whether the program was provided in an institution or in the community. The return to custody rate for offenders who participated in the program in the community declined by 39.1 percent, while their recidivism rate dropped by 66.3 percent. Comparable reductions for offenders who participated in the program in an institution were 8 percent and 16.2 percent, respectively. Violent offenders, sex offenders, and drug offenders who completed the program had lower recidivism rates than their counterparts in the control group. Implications of the findings are discussed, and future research on factors that enhance the effectiveness of cognitive skills training programs is recommended. 9 notes and 3 figures