Is treatment non-completion associated with increased reconviction over no treatment?

Abstract

There is accruing evidence that offenders who do not complete treatment are at greater risk of recidivism than those who do complete treatment. Profiles of non-completers show them to be high risk of reoffending compared with completers, and differences in reconviction may be explained by these baseline levels. What is unclear is whether non-completion actually increases the risk of reoffending over no treatment at all. The purpose of this review was to examine the recidivism of noncompleters compared with untreated offenders of comparable risk. A systematic search of the literature relating to cognitive Ábehavioural interventions revealed 16 relevant studies describing 17 samples. The mean effect size (d 0/(/0.16) of differences in reoffending between untreated offenders and treatment non-completers suggests that failing to complete treatment is associated with elevated levels of reoffending, with this effect being more pronounced in community samples (d 0/(/0.23) than institutional samples (d 0/ (/0.15). Methodological limitations include poor risk comparability between samples and heterogeneity of non-completers, nevertheless it is possible that treatment non-completion may make some offenders more likely to reoffend.

Policy and practice tensions in tackling alcohol abuse and violence in probation settings

“…In addition, there is serious concern regarding non-completion rates (Palmer et al, 2011;McMurran, 2007b;Hollin et al, 2004;Wormith and Olver, 2002) particularly considering that noncompleters can be more likely to offend that those receiving no treatment (McMurran and Theodosi, 2007). The ongoing problems of attrition may exacerbate the potential threats posed by the reorganisation of commissioning structures as offenders may be subject to increased discontinuity both within the provision of community orders and as they leave custody.…”

A journey beyond the bars: Participants' experiences of psychological treatment in a prison setting

“…The consistent message amongst researchers (Andrews & Bonta, 1998, Hollin & Palmer, 2009, McMurran & Theodosi, 2007and Tong & Farrington, 2006 is that failure to complete rehabilitative programmes is detrimental to the long-term wellbeing of the former participants, as it correlates with re-offending. McMurran and McCulloch (2007) contend that, in addition to the adverse interpersonal effects of non-completion for the individual participant, noncompletion holds particular relevance on a macro-level.…”

Assessment of personality disorder

“…This has a number of consequences. Studies looking at non-completion of treatment programmes in offender populations, both in the community and in institutions, revealed that non-completers were more likely to reoffend than those who had received no treatment (McMurran 2007). A number of explanations have been offered, including low motivation, resistance and low responsiveness.…”