Clinical trial NCT00690352: Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) Versus Non-SSAS Recidivism Rates Among Nebraska Felony Drug Offenders
Official title: Comparing Recidivism Rates of Felony Drug Offenders in Nebraska Who Were Sentenced to, and/or Participated in, Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) to Those Without SSAS
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Substance-related Disorders
Alcohol-related Disorders
Keywords: Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision
SSAS
substance use disorder
felony drug offender
probation
parole
cognitive behavioral therapy
CBT
Lead sponsor: University of Nebraska
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2008-06-04
Enrollment: 344
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 17
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Probationers and parolees who participated in SSAS starting anytime between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007 at any of the five participating SSAS sites in Nebraska, plus matched sets of probationers and parolees who did not participated in SSAS at any of the probation/parole sites in the state of Nebraska.

Brief summary: This social science study hypothesizes that convicted felony drug offenders in Nebraska who participated in Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) as part of their probation or parole showed significantly better outcomes (specifically, less recidivism) at six months post-entrance to SSAS compared to those who did not participate in SSAS.

Detailed description: Since March 2006, Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) has been available at five sites in Nebraska as an enhancement of probation and parole for felony drug offenders whose scores on initial screening instruments warrant such placement. SSAS enhancements to traditional probation and parole include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in groups; use of incentives; positive reinforcement; and motivational interviewing.

Records of probationers and parolees who participated in SSAS starting anytime between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007 were studied to assess recidivism rates. Recidivism for this study is defined as "an arrest and conviction on a new charge while on probation or parole."

The records of a matched control group of non-SSAS probationers and parolees who entered probation or parole during the same time period with similar drug felony offenses and similar screening scores were also studied. Control group was also matched, as much as possible, with similar age group, demographic data, rural/urban residence, and level of felony offense.

Investigators performed a statistical analysis to determine recidivism rates at six months post-entrance to SSAS (and for the control group, at six months post-entrance to probation or parole).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* convicted felony drug offender
* sentenced in Nebraska
* probationer or parolee
* entered probation or parole or SSAS between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007

Exclusion Criteria:

* convicted felony drug offender sentenced in Nebraska starting probation or parole between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007 who does not match SSAS probationers/parolees in terms of age, demographics, urban v. rural residence, and/or class of felony drug offense.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Recidivism
timeFrame: 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Probation Violation
timeFrame: 6 months
measure: Probation violation with incarceration
timeFrame: 6 months
measure: Positive drug screens
timeFrame: 6 months
measure: Employed
timeFrame: 6 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Omaha
country: United States
facility: University of Nebraska Medical Center
state: Nebraska
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Nebraska
name: Kathleen M Grant, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: