Swift, Certain, and Fair: Reducing Recidivism and Improving Outcomes for Alcohol and Drug Users on State Parole

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This research project will study the outcomes of medium- to high-risk parolees with a history of substance abuse in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania supervised under Swift-Certain-Fair parole. The research goals are to: Determine the effectiveness of SCF parole in reducing recidivism among medium- to high-risk parolees with a history of substance abuse in Pennsylvania. Determine the minimum effective sanction in response to a violation that will bring parolees into compliance with the conditions of their parole.

Official Title
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Swift, Certain, and Fair: Reducing Recidivism and Improving Outcomes for Alcohol and Drug Users on State Parole

Conditions
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Substance Abuse, Criminal Behavior

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: SCF Supervision with Secure Confinement Sanctioning
* Behavioral: SCF Supervision with Work Release Sanctioning
* Behavioral: SCF Supervision with GPS Supervision Sanctioning


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Assigned to the Pittsburgh District Allegheny County resident Has at least 2 years left on supervision Had a prior drug or alcohol related sanction Exclusion Criteria: Sex offender Reentrants assigned to the Special Needs Unit

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Secure Confinement Group<br>Parolees assigned to this group will be assigned sanctions that include secure confinement. | Behavioral: SCF Supervision with Secure Confinement Sanctioning<br>* Parolees assigned to this group will, in the face of a violation, be given a sanction that involves secure confinement.<br>|
| Experimental: Work Release Group<br>Parolees assigned to this group will be assigned sanctions that include work-release. | Behavioral: SCF Supervision with Work Release Sanctioning<br>* Parolees assigned to this group will, in the face of a violation, be given a sanction that involves work-release.<br>|
| Experimental: GPS Supervision Group<br>Parolees assigned to this group will be assigned sanctions that include GPS supervision. | Behavioral: SCF Supervision with GPS Supervision Sanctioning<br>* Parolees assigned to this group will, in the face of a violation, be given a sanction that involves GPS supervision.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control Group<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revocation Rate | Percentage of subjects in each condition who are revoked from parole and returned to prison | 9 Months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Days Incarcerated | Total number of days incarcerated in jail or prison per parolee | 9 Months | 
| New Charges | Number of new charges per parolee | 9 Months | 
| Percent Positive Drug Tests | Percentage of random and scheduled drug tests that result in a positive reading for illicit drugs | 9 Months |