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Examining the Interaction Between Level of Risk and Dosage of Treatment

NCJ Number
241860
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2013 Pages: 338-348
Author(s)
Kimberly Gentry Sperber; Edward J. Latessa; Matthew D. Makarios
Date Published
March 2013
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study seeks to identify the number of hours of treatment that are necessary to reduce recidivism in a sample of offenders placed in a residential community corrections facility.
Abstract
The risk principle suggests that effective correctional interventions should vary the intensity of treatment by offender risk, with higher risk offenders receiving more intense services than lower risk offenders. Although much research indicates that programs that target higher risk cases are more likely to be effective, relatively little research has examined the impact of varying levels of treatment dosage by risk. Consequently, this study seeks to identify the number of hours of treatment that are necessary to reduce recidivism in a sample of offenders placed in a residential community corrections facility. The sample for this study includes 689 adult male offenders successfully discharged from a Community-Based Correctional Facility in Ohio. The results provide support for providing higher levels of dosage to high-risk offenders, with substantial reductions in recidivism for high-risk offenders receiving 200 or more hours of treatment. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.