MAR 30, 2026

Do Criminal Records Reveal Who Needs Substance Use Treatment? New IBR Study Challenges That Idea

A new study from the Institute of Behavioral Research at TCU pushes back on a common assumption in correctional settings: that criminal history can signal who needs substance use treatment.

Published in Criminal Justice Review, the study analyzed records from more than 56,000 people released from the Illinois Department of Corrections. Researchers compared arrest history with self-reported substance use before incarceration, along with screening results used to determine treatment need.