DOI: 10.3886/icpsr03794.v1
title: Outcome Evaluation of the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program for State Prisoners in Massachusetts, 1999-2002
title: Version 1

description: This study was an outcome evaluation of the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program at the Barnstable House of Corrections in Massachusetts. The study is based on the 188 inmates referred to the RSAT program at Barnstable between January 1, 1999, and June 6, 2001. Data on participants' criminal histories were gathered from the Criminal History Systems Board through March 2002. Data on offender age, entry, and discharge dates were supplied by the Barnstable County House of Corrections. Data from offender scores on psychological inventories and offender outcomes in the RSAT program were supplied by AdCare Criminal Justice Services.
description: This study was an outcome evaluation of the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program at the Barnstable House of Corrections in Massachusetts. The program is administered by AdCare Criminal Justice Services. Federal guidelines require that inmates participating in the RSAT program be separately housed and incarcerated for 6 to 12 months, to allow enough time for effective treatment. The objective of the program was to reduce the likelihood of recidivism by treating substance abusive behavior through the development of participants' cognitive, behavioral, social, and vocational skills. This evaluation was designed to answer the question: can a correctional program for chronic criminal offenders deter them from committing additional crimes, despite their history of serious disruption due to substance abuse and other factors?
description: This study is based on the 188 inmates referred to the RSAT program at Barnstable between January 1, 1999, and June 6, 2001. Data on participants' criminal histories were gathered from the Criminal History Systems Board through March 2002. Data on offender age, entry, and discharge dates were supplied by the Barnstable County House of Corrections. Data from offender scores on psychological inventories and offender outcomes in the RSAT program were supplied by AdCare Criminal Justice Services. The study employed a redundant design that combined a single group pre-post design with one that split the sample into two cohorts. The single-group pre-post design tested whether the likelihood of arrest and conviction after RSAT was reduced from the baseline likelihood of arrest and conviction in the year prior to incarceration. The sample was divided into two cohorts in order to compare the pre-treatment arrest and conviction records of a 70-person control group with the post-treatment arrest and conviction records of a 57-person treatment group. Control group members were matched to treatment group members on the basis of RSAT outcome (completion, early release, termination due to noncompliant behavior) and opportunity time for offending. In order to assure that matched subjects had the same opportunity time for offending, control group members were matched to treatment group members who were released one year before the control group members were incarcerated.
description: Variables include which cohort the subject belonged to, whether there were any new convictions or charges since release, number of new or pending charges after one year, release date, RSAT program completion status, Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) score, Adult Substance Use Survey (ASUS) score, charges with conviction or sentence pending, criminal history for 12 months before incarceration, date of first offense in lifetime, admission date, date of birth, whether participant was put on parole or probation upon release, and whether participant was a sex offender or a domestic violence offender.
description: Presence of Common Scales: Scales used were the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) and the Adult Substance Use Survey (ASUS).
description: Datasets: 
 
 DS1: Dataset
description: The data contain duplicate records for two offenders and one record is blank. The study was based on 188 unique individuals. More information on the records not included in the study is available in a codebook note.
description: Inmates who were admitted to the Barnstable House of Corrections between January 1, 1999, and June 6, 2001, and met the criteria for referral to the RSAT program.
description: Criteria for referral to the RSAT program were based on criminal record, present offenses, sentence length (at least nine months), and other factors determined by correctional staff.