Examination of the Impact of Moral Reconation Therapy in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections

• NCJ Number: 163413
• Author(s): D L MacKenzie; R Brame; A R Waggoner; K D Robinson
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 37 pages
• Grant Number(s): 94-IJ-CX-0064
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

Moral reconation therapy (MRT), a treatment approach implemented in the entire Oklahoma correctional system in September 1993, was analyzed with respect to its impacts on offenders who were under correctional supervision during 1993, 1994, and 1995.

Abstract

MRT is an innovative cognitive behavior program that emphasizes the development of moral reasoning ability in treatment-resistant populations. The analysis compared program participants with other offenders who took part in other programs such as education and job training and with offenders who did not take part in any programming. Results indicated that the decision to take part in MRT and other programs was correlated with a number of individual characteristics. However, it is premature to make comparisons among groups because treatment effects and factors that lead to program initiation are difficult to disentangle. Nevertheless, among the individuals who initiated MRT, program involvement was associated with moderate but statistically significant reductions in the risk of misconduct in the institution and recidivism in the community. Limitations of the analysis include a need to better understand influencing program participation and large quantities of incomplete program participation information. Tables and 28 references (Author abstract modified)