Explaining recidivism: The impact of program integrity on the success of African American male offenders.

by Paul Elam

For many years, there has been much concern and inquiry on the subject of the impact of community based correctional interventions and programs in reducing criminal behavior and recidivism. Investigative studies conducted in the 1970s shed disbelief on the effectiveness of community based correctional programs in reducing recidivism. Not long after the publication of such research reviews, much research was conducted indicating that some programs work with some offenders. Studies in this area have advanced and quickly identified cognitive behavioral and other behaviorally based programs as the most effective in reducing criminal behavior. Another significant area of research on community-based correctional interventions has also evolved. This cutting edge focus of study, coined program integrity, seeks to identify the characteristics of programs, above and beyond type of treatment provided, that are related to a program's effectiveness in reducing recidivism. This study analyzed data from a prisoner re-entry community-based correctional intervention program in the State of Michigan to determine whether program characteristics relate to effectiveness. African American male offenders who successfully complete effective community based treatment programming were compared with offenders under parole/post release control who were not placed in community based treatment programming. Research findings indicate no significant relationship between correctional program integrity and treatment effectiveness for African-American male parolees.

135 pages, NOOKstudy eTextbook