Offending behaviour programmes in the community: The effects on reconviction of three programmes with adult male offenders

Abstract

Purpose. This study presents the findings of an evaluation of the effect on reconviction of three general offending behaviour programmes in the English and Welsh Probation Service with adult male offenders. Method. The study employed a quasi‐experimental design comparing the reconviction rates of three groups: offenders who were allocated to and completed a programme, offenders allocated to a programme but failed to complete, and a comparison group. Results. The main finding from the analyses indicated that, controlling for salient population factors, the offenders who had completed a programme had a lower rate of reconviction as compared with non‐completers and comparison groups. Additionally, the non‐completers had a higher rate of reconviction than the comparison group. Conclusions. The findings are discussed in light of the extant literature and a range of explanations is presented.

Cognitive skills programmes for offenders

“…As with R & R, evaluations have shown ETS to be effective in institutional settings with adult male offenders, particularly when the programme is completed (Blud, Travers, Nugent, & Thornton, 2003;Cann, Falshaw, Nugent, & Friendship, 2003;Falshaw, Friendship, Travers, & Nugent, 2003Friendship, Blud, Erikson, & Travers, 2002;Friendship, Blud, Erikson, Travers, & Thornton, 2003). The reconviction data are similarly positive for offenders who complete ETS in the community (Hollin et al, 2004McGuire et al, 2008;Palmer et al, 2007).…”

“…A preliminary evaluation of Think First in the English and Welsh Probation Service (when it was called Offence-Focused Problem Solving) reported significant changes in cognition, including attitudes towards crime (McGuire & Hatcher, 2000). The evaluations conducted in the English and Welsh Probation Service have shown significant decreases in reconviction among male offenders who complete the programme McGuire et al, 2008;Palmer et al, 2007;Roberts, 2004). Cognitive skills programmes continue to develop with, for example, a one-to-one cognitive skills programme for offenders unsuitable for group work (Priestley, 2000).…”

Evaluation of structured cognitive–behavioural treatment programmes in reducing criminal recidivism

“…Previous reports have described the process of implementing the programmes using a qualitative approach (Hollin et al 2002), and a Home Office on-line report has provided re-conviction data across all programmes studied for varying lengths of follow-up periods (Hollin et al 2004). Other studies Hollin 2006;Hollin et al 2008;Palmer et al 2007) describe specific aspects of the quantitative outcome data. The present paper focuses on three programmes designed for reducing recidivism across a spectrum of criminal offences (general offending behaviour programmes) 2 , focusing on offenders sentenced to programmes at various points within a single calendar year and followed up for a standard period of 17 months, the maximum feasible within the research project.…”

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in persistent criminal offenders: the need for specialist treatment programs

“…Medication alone will not achieve all of these aims, but it is likely to improve adherence to such activities. In particular, adherence to offender treatment programs is essential as noncompletion may increase risk of offending [23,24].…”