Evaluation of Prison-Based Drug Treatment in Pennsylvania, 2000-2001

The purpose of this study was to examine multiple treatment
process measures and post-release outcomes for inmates who
participated in Therapeutic Community (TC) drug treatment programs or
comparison groups provided by the Pennsylvania Department of
Corrections at five state prisons. The project attempted to examine
more closely the relationships among inmate characteristics, treatment
process, and treatment outcomes than previous studies in order to
explore critical issues in prison-based drug treatment programming and
policies. Researchers examined in-treatment measures and multiple
post-release outcomes for inmates who participated in TC drug
treatment programs or comparison groups at five state prisons:
Graterford, Houtzdale, Cresson, Waymart, and Huntingdon. Matched
comparison groups were made up of TC-eligible inmates who participated
in less intensive forms of treatment (e.g., short-term drug education
and outpatient treatment groups) due to a shortage of intensive
treatment slots at the five institutions. Included in the treatment
sample were all current TC residents as of January 1, 2000. New
subjects were added to the study as they were admitted to treatment
programs. Between January 1 and November 30, 2000, data on all inmates
admitted to or discharged from alcohol or drug treatment programs were
collected on a monthly basis. Monthly tracking was continued
throughout the study to determine treatment outcomes (e.g., successful
vs. unsuccessful). TC clients were asked to complete additional
self-report measures that tapped psychological constructs and inmate
perceptions of the treatment experience, and TC counselors were asked
to complete periodic reassessments of each inmate's participation in
treatment. Self-reports of treatment process and psychological
functioning were gathered within 30 days after admission, again after
six months, again at the end of 12 months, and again at discharge if
the inmate remained in TC longer than 12 months. Counselor ratings of
inmate participation in treatment were similarly gathered one month,
six months, and 12 months following admission to treatment. After
release, both treatment and comparison groups were tracked over time
to monitor rearrest, reincarceration, drug use, and employment.
Measures can be broken down into the following four categories and
their sources: (1) Inmate Background Factors were collected from the
Pennsylvania Additive Classification System (PACT), the Pennsylvania
Department of Corrections Screening Instrument (PACSI), and the TCU
(Texas Christian University) Drug Screen. (2) Institutional
Indicators: Impacts Internal to the Prison Environment were collected
from the Department of Corrections Misconduct Database, research and
program records, and TCU Resident Evaluation of Self and Treatment
(REST) forms. (3) Intermediate or "Proximal" Outcomes: Reductions in
Risk for Drug Use and Criminal Behavior were collected from research
and program records, TCU Counselor Rating of Client (CRC) forms, and
TCU Resident Evaluation of Self and Treatment (REST) forms. (4)
Post-Release Indicators: Inmate Behavior Upon Release from Prison were
collected from the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole,
Pennsylvania state police records provided by the Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), and the Department of
Corrections inmate records system.

Tags: correctional-facilities, drug-treatment, inmate-programs, program-evaluation, residential-programs, substance-abuse, substance-abuse-treatment, treatment-outcomes, treatment-programs
Organization: Department of Justice