NCJ Number
192557
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 65 Issue: 3 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 40-45
Editor(s)
Ellen Wilson Fielding
Date Published
December 2001
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This research study uses findings from the District of Columbia Treatment Initiative (DCI) to examine whether completing treatment in two residential therapeutic communities of varying lengths would be an effective strategy for reducing the potential of further incarceration.
Abstract
In the wake of the large numbers incarcerated for drug-related offenses, focus needs to be directed to reducing the recidivism within this population. To address this issue, this research study examined therapeutic community treatment results, finding that treatment completion was associated with a considerable reduction in incarceration at follow-up. The District of Columbia Treatment Initiative (DCI) randomized experiment was designed to test the effectiveness of providing therapeutic community (TC) treatment and subsequent outpatient treatment of different lengths and intensity to clients entering treatment in Washington, DC. This experiment consisted of a total of 412 clients ranging in age from 19 to 55 years. Even though findings indicated that treatment completion was associated with a reduction in being incarcerated, it was difficult to identify the mechanism behind them, treatment completion, or client compliance. Results indicated that residential treatment might be the answer to the rising costs of the criminal justice system in the United States and the enormous social costs to minority populations. References