What are the most evidenced based interventions for reducing recidivism
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Evidence-Based Interventions for Reducing Recidivism
Psychological Interventions in Prison
Effectiveness of Psychological Treatments
Psychological interventions have been widely implemented in prisons to reduce recidivism, but their effectiveness remains debated. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found that psychological interventions were associated with reduced reoffending outcomes (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.56–0.92). However, this effect was not significant when smaller studies were excluded (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.68–1.11)1. This suggests that while psychological treatments show promise, their impact may be overestimated due to publication bias and small-study effects.
Therapeutic Communities
Therapeutic communities, a specific type of psychological intervention, have shown more consistent results. These communities were associated with decreased rates of recidivism (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.46–0.91)1. This finding is supported by another review, which highlighted that therapeutic communities consistently reduced recidivism and drug use among incarcerated individuals8.
Specialized Psychological Treatments
Offense-Specific Programs
Specialized psychological treatments targeting specific offenses, such as sexual offenses, domestic violence, and general violence, have demonstrated significant reductions in recidivism. Treated individuals showed a 32.6% reduction in sexual offense recidivism, a 36.0% reduction in domestic violence recidivism, and a 24.3% reduction in general violence recidivism compared to untreated individuals3. These programs were more effective when facilitated by qualified psychologists and when staff received clinical supervision.
Noninstitutional Psychosocial Interventions
Juvenile Offenders
Noninstitutional psychosocial interventions for juvenile offenders have shown mixed results. A meta-analysis found no significant reductions in recidivism compared to control conditions, although some individual studies suggested positive effects5. Another meta-review indicated that intervention programs could reduce recidivism, especially when combined with rehabilitative modalities6.
Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions
Probationers
Cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBIs) have been effective in reducing recidivism among high- and medium-risk probationers. A study found that probationers who participated in CBIs were more likely to complete probation satisfactorily and had longer survival times before rearrest compared to a matched comparison group9. This suggests that CBIs can be a valuable tool in community corrections.
Health Care-Based Violence Intervention Programs
Youth Violence
Health care-based violence intervention programs (VIPs) targeting youth violence have shown promise in reducing injury recidivism. Although only one out of six programs showed a significant reduction in recidivism, several studies reported positive intermediate outcomes such as increased service use and attitude changes4. These programs also led to reductions in health care and criminal justice system costs.
Substance Use Interventions
Incarceration-Based Drug Treatment
Incarceration-based drug treatment programs, particularly therapeutic communities, have been effective in reducing recidivism and drug relapse. These programs showed a 15-17% reduction in recidivism and drug use post-release8. Opioid maintenance treatments also reduced drug use after release, although their impact on recidivism was less clear10.
Combined Interventions
Multiple Program Assignments
Combining multiple evidence-based interventions can lead to incremental improvements in recidivism outcomes. Correctional clients who participated in combinations of basic skills training, vocational training, and cognitive-behavioral treatment were more likely to reduce post-release reconvictions compared to those who participated in standalone interventions7.
Conclusion
The most evidenced-based interventions for reducing recidivism include therapeutic communities, specialized psychological treatments for specific offenses, cognitive-behavioral interventions, and health care-based violence intervention programs. Combining multiple interventions can further enhance their effectiveness. Future research should focus on improving the quality and consistency of these interventions to ensure their long-term success in reducing recidivism.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Effectiveness of psychological interventions in prison to reduce recidivism: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Psychological interventions in prison can effectively reduce recidivism after release, but larger studies with more participants show no significant reduction.
Meta-Analysis
Rigorous JournalPsychological Resilience Interventions to Reduce Recidivism in Young People: A Systematic Review
Psychological interventions focusing on resilience in young people may reduce recidivism by improving coherence, emotion recognition, positive decision-making, and reduced defiance.
Systematic ReviewDoes specialized psychological treatment for offending reduce recidivism? A meta-analysis examining staff and program variables as predictors of treatment effectiveness.
Specialized psychological offense treatments effectively reduce recidivism, with staffing and program implementation variables being crucial for optimal outcomes.
Meta-Analysis
Highly CitedThe effects of health care–based violence intervention programs on injury recidivism and costs: A systematic review
Health care-based violence intervention programs show promise in reducing injury recidivism and promoting positive intermediate outcomes in youth violence.
Systematic ReviewSystematic review and meta-analysis of noninstitutional psychosocial interventions to prevent juvenile criminal recidivism.
Noninstitutional psychosocial interventions showed no significant reduction in recidivism among juvenile offenders aged 12-17 compared to control treatments.
Meta-AnalysisThe 40-year debate: a meta-review on what works for juvenile offenders
Intervention programs can effectively reduce recidivism for juvenile offenders, especially when combined with a rehabilitative program modality.
Meta-AnalysisTreatment Combinations: The Joint Effects of Multiple Evidence-Based Interventions on Recidivism Reduction
Multiple evidence-based interventions, such as basic skills, vocational training, and cognitive behavioral treatment, can effectively reduce postrelease recidivism in correctional clients.
The Effectiveness of Incarceration‐Based Drug Treatment on Criminal Behavior: A Systematic Review
Incarceration-based drug treatment programs, particularly therapeutic communities, show modest reductions in post-release recidivism and drug use, while boot camps show no effect on either outcome.
Systematic ReviewHighly CitedEvaluation of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for high- and medium-risk probationers.
The National Institute of Corrections curriculum-based cognitive-behavioral intervention effectively reduces recidivism rates among high- and medium-risk probationers, with greater effectiveness in European Americans and African Americans than Latino Americans.
Non-RCTSubstance Use and Recidivism Outcomes for Prison-Based Drug and Alcohol Interventions
Prison-based substance use interventions, such as therapeutic communities and opioid maintenance treatment, effectively reduce recidivism and substance use after release.
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