BOP

Bureau of Prisons Treatment Process Evaluation

TEXT Box--BOP Proj Info (4-8-14)

Research has demonstrated that one way to reduce criminality and drug use following incarceration is to provide quality drug treatment to drug-involved offenders while they are in custody. Particularly within correctional settings, long-term residential treatment programs, such as residential drug abuse treatment programs (DAP) provided by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), have been found to reduce post-incarceration drug use and criminal activity.

Nevertheless, the majority of offenders with substance abuse problems continue to return to society untreated, and go back to a life of alcohol and drug use and criminal activity. Given the limited availability of treatment, therefore, it is critical that correctional programs know who can benefit most from their treatment program and which components are having the greatest impact on effecting behavioral change.

Through a Cooperative Agreement between Texas Christian University and the BOP’s National Institute of Corrections, this project evaluated an assessment instrument for identifying and monitoring the essential components of the therapeutic treatment process that link with favorable during- and post-treatment outcomes. The specific goals were to (1) identify existing key BOP data points relevant to treatment process, (2) prepare a psychometrically sound assessment instrument that tracks changes in inmate attitudes and cognitive processes over time as they progress through DAP programs, and (3) evaluate the assessment instrument in 6 BOP DAP programs.

Data collected on 667 inmates indicated that the revised TCU-CEST has good psychometric properties and was sensitive to variations across sites. Results helped formulate strategies for continuing this research as part of the CJ-DATS Project.

BOP Report

Knight, K., Simpson, D. D., & Morey, J. (2002, May). TCU-NIC Cooperative Agreement: Final Report. Fort Worth: Texas Christian University, Institute of Behavioral Research.