Treatment process in prison therapeutic communities: motivation, participation, and outcome.
Although the largest effects of prison-based therapeutic community (TC) programs are associated with entry into aftercare, only a minority of prisoners volunteer for these aftercare programs. The study addresses the gap in our knowledge concerning these low rates of voluntary entry. A theoretical formulation of the TC process involving the effect of the interaction of clients' motivation and participation in the activities of the TC on entry into aftercare was tested on a sample of 110 volunteers in a prison-based TC for whom there were client and staff ratings of 3-month participation and 12-month follow-up data on relapse and recidivism. Path analyses support a model in which the interaction of motivation and 3-month participation ratings have a direct effect on the selection of aftercare, and aftercare has a direct effect on relapse and recidivism. The use of a combination of enhanced motivation and early program participation as a means of increasing the utilization and effectiveness of aftercare is discussed.
Melnick
G
G
Center for Therapeutic Community Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, New York, USA.
De Leon
G
G
Thomas
G
G
Kressel
D
D
Wexler
H K
HK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009042:Motivation; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*