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Outcome Evaluation of a Prison Therapeutic Community for Substance Abuse Treatment

NCJ Number
122431
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1990) Pages: 71-92
Author(s)
H K Wexler; G P Falkin; D S Lipton
Date Published
1990
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Some persons in the fields of substance and corrections still believe that prison-based rehabilitation is ineffective and that treatment efforts should be reserved for the nonprison community.
Abstract
While correctional institutions are generally hostile environments that impede attempts at both treatment and research, both can be accomplished successfully, even though it is highly difficult to maintain the integrity of treatment programs and research studies within correctional facilities. This study reports treatment findings for the Stay'n Out therapeutic community (TC), which has operated in the New York State correctional system for over 12 years. This is the first large-scale study (N = 1,500) that provides convincing evidence that prison-based TC treatment can produce significant reductions in recidivism rates for males and females. 1 figure, 5 tables, 27 references. (Publisher abstract)