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Evaluating the "Reasoning and Rehabilitation" Program for Young Offenders

NCJ Number
208731
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 39 Issue: 4 Dated: 2004 Pages: 31-45
Author(s)
Jonathan Mitchell; Emma J. Palmer
Editor(s)
Nathaniel J. Pallone Ph.D.
Date Published
2004
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of the Reasoning and Rehabilitation program for juvenile offenders in an English prison, specifically reconviction and re-imprisonment.
Abstract
One of the most widely used and evaluated programs designed to reduce offending is the Reasoning and Rehabilitation (R and R) program. The R and R program attempts to address a series of cognitive deficits which are argued as playing an important role in the onset and maintenance of criminal behavior. The idea is that these maladaptive thinking patterns can be replaced with cognitive skills promoting pro-social behavioral choices. Most evaluative studies of the R and R program suggest it has a beneficial impact on recidivism, but little is known on its effectiveness with juvenile offenders. This study was designed to investigate whether completion of the Reasoning and Rehabilitation program reduces reconviction and re-imprisonment in juveniles after release from custody in England. Study participants consisted of 62 convicted male juvenile offenders who had been imprisoned between 1998 and 2000, and who had been released at least 18 months before the collection of reconviction data took place. Results indicate little difference in the reconviction and re-imprisonment rates of the treatment and comparison groups. Even though the reconviction rate for offenders in treatment was slightly lower, the difference was small and not statistically significant. References