title: Cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation for high-risk violent offenders: an outcome evaluation of the violence prevention unit.
abstract: Rehabilitation programs for adult violent offending are still novel, and few published studies examine the recidivism outcomes of those who complete such programs. This study describes a New Zealand prison program for high-risk violent men. The program is intensive and cognitive behavioral. Preliminary outcome data are presented for three indices during 2 or more years of follow-up: nonviolent reconviction, violent reconviction, and subsequent imprisonment. In comparison with untreated offenders, treated men were less likely to be reconvicted of a violent offense, and those who were took longer to fail. There was also a 12% difference in favor of the treated men on the two other indices, nonviolent reconviction and reimprisonment. The authors conclude that the program shows early promise and that further evaluation with a larger sample of treated men will be important in clarifying whether the program is having a differential impact on violent versus nonviolent offending.
authors.affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Devon L L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Polaschek
authors.forename: Nick J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Marilyn R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.forename: Lorna R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Daly
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*