title: Does substance misuse moderate the relationship between criminal thinking and recidivism?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some differential intervention frameworks contend that substance use is less robustly related to recidivism outcomes than other criminogenic needs such as criminal thinking. The current study tested the hypothesis that substance use disorder severity moderates the relationship between criminal thinking and recidivism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study utilized two independent criminal justice samples. Study 1 included 226 drug-involved probationers. Study 2 included 337 jail inmates with varying levels of substance use disorder severity. Logistic regression was employed to test the main and interactive effects of criminal thinking and substance use on multiple dichotomous indicators of recidivism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bivariate analyses revealed a significant correlation between criminal thinking and recidivism in the jail sample (r= .18,p< .05) but no significant relationship in the probation sample. Logistic regressions revealed that SUD symptoms moderated the relationship between criminal thinking and recidivism in the jail-based sample (B= -.58,p< .05). A significant moderation effect was not observed in the probation sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study findings indicate that substance use disorder symptoms moderate the strength of the association between criminal thinking and recidivism. These findings demonstrate the need for further research into the interaction between various dynamic risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminal Justice, University of Texas at San Antonio, 501 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78207.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Caudy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, George Mason University.
authors.forename: Johanna B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Folk
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, George Mason University.
authors.forename: Jeffrey B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Stuewig
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminology, Law & Society, George Mason University.
authors.forename: Alese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wooditch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, George Mason University.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminology, Law & Society, George Mason University.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maass
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, George Mason University.
authors.forename: June P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tangney
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminology, Law & Society, George Mason University.
authors.forename: Faye S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Taxman
keywords: criminal thinking; intervention; recidivism; risk reduction; substance use disorders