Changing Criminal Attitudes Among Incarcerated Offenders

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of a criminal attitude treatment program to changes on measured criminal attitudes and postprogram recidivism. The criminal attitude program (CAP) is a standardized therapeutic curriculum consisting of 15 modules offering 44 hr of therapeutic time. It was delivered by trained facilitators to a total of 113 male offenders incarcerated in one of five state correctional institutions. Pretreatment and posttreatment comparisons were made on standardized measures of criminal attitudes, response bias, and motivation for lifestyle changes. Results found statistically significant lower criminal attitudes at posttreatment that were unaffected by response bias. There were also increases in motivation for lifestyle changes, but these did not reach statistical significance. Fifty-seven participants were released into the community following the program and were eligible for recidivism analyses. Comparisons between participants who completed the CAP and those who did not complete the CAP revealed 7% lower rearrest among CAP completers. Although preliminary, these results indicate that the CAP had a positive effect on changes to criminal attitudes and recidivism. The findings are discussed in terms of conceptual and practical considerations in the assessment and treatment of criminal attitudes among offenders.

Psychometric Examination of Treatment Change Among Mentally Disordered Offenders: A Risk–Needs Analysis

“…Positive changes on the criminal attitude domains, antisocial intent, and to a lesser degree, attitudes toward associates (both from the MCAA), were associated with decreased general recidivism; the former significantly so, even after controlling for baseline risk (LSI-OR total score), suggesting the association is unlikely to be spurious. The results are consistent with Simourd, Olver, and Brandenburg (2016), who found changes on the CSS-M following a prison-based criminal attitudes program were associated with decreased recidivism postrelease. Similarly, Olver, Kingston, et al (2014) found that changes on a psychometric measure of aggression following sex offender treatment were linked to reductions in multiple recidivism outcomes; however, changes on all other psychometric measures of a miscellany of psychological constructs (e.g., loneliness, acceptance of responsibility, intimacy, empathy, and sex offender beliefs) were not.…”

The Role of Social Problem Solving, Criminal Attitude, and ADHD in Aggression Among Incarcerated Youth in Hong Kong

“…Individuals who show high scores on the WURS tend to need treatment that is specifically designed to enhance cognitive and emotional skills, such as Reasoning and Rehabilitation 2 for ADHD (Young, Khondoker, et al, 2015). People who obtain a high score on the CSS-M need intervention to target antisocial beliefs, such as the Criminal Attitude Program developed by Simourd, Olver, and Brandenburg (2016). People who obtain a high score on the two instruments are likely to benefit from both programs.…”

A randomised controlled trial of a cognitive skills programme for offenders with mental illness

“…Some programmes have shown promise in terms of reducing criminal attitudes through focused cognitive skills‐based programmes, and subsequent recidivism, including programmes such as R&R2 (e.g., Kingston & Olver, ; Simourd, Olver, & Brandenburg, ). One possible consideration is that the findings may reflect the criminal attitudes measures used, rather than the programme; that is, it is possible that risk was reduced, only these measures did not capture this.…”

“…CSS‐M) is intended to reflect criminal attitude content (Simourd & Olver, ). Simourd et al () found associations between changes on the CSS‐M from the Criminal Attitudes Programme, geared towards changing criminal thought content, and decreased recidivism. In this respect, it is possible that implementation of a content‐based programme, or more integration of content‐based with process‐based work may optimise observed benefits.…”