NCJ Number
135938
Date Published
1990
Length
112 pages
Annotation
This study of Maryland's Patuxent Institution looked at the overall effectiveness of the facility's program, characteristics of inmates for whom the program has been least and most successful, variables that predict inmate success after release, and outcomes of fully treated versus partially treated inmates.
Abstract
The main strategy for evaluating overall program effectiveness was to compare postrelease recidivism of those released from Patuxent with the recidivism of individuals released from Division of Corrections (DOC) prisons. The analysis revealed no evidence of any effect of Patuxent treatment on subsequent recidivism as measured by the probability of being arrested following release to supervision. Being confined at Patuxent did not produce lower recidivism than DOC prisons. The actual probability of being arrested while under supervision following release was higher for Patuxent prisoners. It is noted, however, that persons selected for treatment at Patuxent were those most likely to be recidivists upon release. What was both surprising and disappointing was the lack of clear evidence that Patuxent's treatment program had beneficial effects on inmates. Because the study was not able to discern any effect of treatment on recidivism, it was not possible to identify prisoners for whom treatment was least or most successful. Although the research indicated inmate characteristics that were associated with lower recidivism following release from Patuxent, the same factors were associated with lower recidivism among DOC releasees. Policy implications of the study findings are discussed. Additional information on the study's statistical procedures and results is appended. Tables and figures