Moral Reconation Therapy is a systematic treatment strategy designed to enhance ego, social, moral, and positive behavioral growth in a progressive, step-by-step fashion. It is based upon the assumption that fully functioning, reasonably content, happy persons have a strong sense of identity and that their behavior and relationships are based upon relatively high moral judgment levels. The therapist strives to reeducate clients socially, morally, and behaviorally and to instill appropriate goals, motivation, and values. Moral Reconation Therapy has slowly evolved in response to the unique needs of particular client populations who are considered resistant to treatment. The therapy is an adaptable and utilitarian treatment system. This article is a review of the treatment system and relevant personality theory, and a description of how the system is applied to drug abusers and clients with antisocial personalities. In addition, the article presents preliminary research on the system.
70 male felony offenders treated with the cognitive behavioral approach of Moral Reconation Therapy during and after incarceration were assessed for rearrests and reincarceration 38 months after their release. They were compared to a nontreated control group of 82 male felony offenders. Recidivism in the treated group was 24.3% as compared to 36.6% for the control group. Analysis showed that steps completed significantly correlated with rearrests and recidivism and that the correlation between number of aftercare sessions and recidivism approached significance.
70 male felony offenders treated with the cognitive behavioral approach of Moral Reconation Therapy during and after reincarceration were assessed for reincarceration and rearrests five years after their release. They were compared to a nontreated control group of 82 male felony offenders. Reincarceration in the treated group (37.1%) was significantly lower than recidivism in controls (54.9%). Also, the treated group showed fewer rearrests and fewer days of additional sentence.
115 convicted drunk drivers were treated with Moral Reconation Therapy during their incarceration. Postrelease recidivism (rearrest) and convictions of these treated subjects was compared to a control group of 65 convicted drunk drivers who did not receive treatment due to limited bed space. Analysis showed a rearrest rate of 20% for the treated group during the first year of the program's operation compared to 27.6% for the control group during the same period. Subjects who participated in a structured aftercare program after release showed only a 4.3% recidivism rate.
115 DWI-convicted male inmates were treated with the cognitive behavioral system of Moral Reconation Therapy during their incarceration. Three years after their release, subjects' postrelease arrest and reincarceration records were collected. In the treated group, 24 subjects participated in an extended aftercare program and were compared to a control group of 65 DWI-convicted inmates who did not enter treatment due to limited bed space. Analysis showed reincarceration rates of 36.9% for the 65 controls, 22.6% of the 115 treated subjects, and only 16.7% of the 24 aftercare clients.
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