NCJ Number
73352
Date Published
1980
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The Complex Offender Project (COP) in Wisconsin is described and assessed for its effectiveness in working with chronic adult offenders who are also suffering from various character and behavior disorders.
Abstract
The typical 'complex offender' profile among the 119 people referred to the project was that of a young white male with a history of juvenile court involvement and convictions for several adult offenses resulting in sentences of jail or probation. Presenting a complexity of problems, such individuals are often reluctant to participate in correctional or mental health programs, and correctional and mental health agencies are likewise reluctant to provide services to them. The COP was intensive and provided high-frequency client-staff contacts. It consisted of a wide variety of individualized approaches appropriate to the complexity of the offender's problems. In general, the program principles were based on social learning theory with emphasis on skill building (including employment-seeking skills) and contingency contracting. In the first analysis of program effectiveness, 21 summary measures of employment, independent living, and psychiatric and legal involvement were evaluated on 52 subjects interviewed 20 months after referral. Results showed that clients who had been successfully discharged or who were still in treatment showed significant improvement over failed clients and over baseline conditions. A second analysis comparing behavior of 32 clients during treatment and behavior 8 months after termination of treatment according to the same 21 summary variables showed significantly fewer psychiatric hospitalizations and less involvement with the criminal justice system. It is concluded that even the most difficult offenders can be helped, given the proper individualized treatment. A data table, three sets of graphs, and five references are provided.