Cook County Jail Outcome Study

The correctional treatment and recidivism study conducted at the Cook County Jail was conducted by researchers from TASC and Loyola University, who performed a study of Gateway's substance abuse treatment program at the Jail for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and Socio-Technical Research Associates. This study examined the effect of substance abuse treatment on re-arrest rates and compared results among inmates who had various lengths of stay in treatment.

The treatment was provided through the coordination of four agencies: the Illinois Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASA) had general oversight responsibilities; Cermak Health Services of DOC/Sheriff provided medical and psychiatric care at the Cook County Jail; Illinois Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC) conducted assessments, pre-treatment groups, orientation, services, and placement and case management services for participants completing the program and leaving jail; and Gateway Foundation, Inc. provided the substance abuse treatment. The program was a modified therapeutic community treatment model. Inmates moved through several phases of treatment, and graduates were referred to community-based treatment for continued care.

''...there was a near elimination of inmate
and gang-related violence among participants...''

The study showed that time in substance abuse treatment correlated with reduced recidivism rates: participants who spent between 90 and 150 days in the treatment program had much lower recidivism rates than those who spent less time in treatment; there was a near elimination of inmate and gang-related violence among participants; and 10% completed Adult Basic Education or General Equivalency Diploma educational programs while in the program.

The treatment program was selected by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to participate in its NIDA-funded study, "The Availability, Cost and Effectiveness of Drug Abuse Treatment Programs Provided in Coordination with Criminal Justice Programs" and continues to be identified as a national model by the Bureau of Justice Administration and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority - Evaluation of IDOC Sheridan TC

The Sheridan Correctional Center reopened in January, 2004 as a unique national model institution aimed at reducing drug crime and drug-related crime by serving as a substance abuse treatment facility with reintegrated reentry services for inmates. The Sheridan program is unique in that the entire medium-security prison is a dedicated therapeutic community substance abuse treatment program.

''...participants experienced a 44%
lower re-incarceration rate...''

Although offenders at Sheridan are considered a ''serious'' population in terms of their criminal records and history of substance abuse, preliminary outcomes comparing the first 721 Sheridan releasees with a matched comparison group of 1,412 offenders released at the same time indicated the following as of 12/31/05:

• Sheridan participants experienced a 44% lower re-incarceration rate (7% vs. 17%) at 6 months post-release than the comparison group.
• The re-arrest rates for Sheridan participants who spent nine months at Sheridan compared to the comparison group participants were 63% lower.

The process and initial impact evaluation, conducted by Dr. David Olson of Loyola University Chicago and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (with guidance provided by Dr. Kevin Knight of TCU), indicated that:

• Those removed from program for rule violations/failure to participate are different than those who remain. Removals are younger, less likely to be eligible for Earned Good Conduct Credit, and are more likely to be marijuana abusers.
• The removal rate at Sheridan is better than at most prison-based TCs.
• The components of effective treatment programs (participation, rapport, etc.) are evident from participant surveys.
• The treatment dosage is appropriate.
• Components of effective employment readiness and an employment skill identification program are in place.
• The recidivism rate is lower and the employment rate higher than similar prison releasees and these rates are likely to improve even more over time.

These preliminary findings support past research findings that document the fact the ''treatment works.'' As the Sheridan program reaches capacity and as participants are released in larger numbers to the community, the challenges are the coordination and balance of participant needs, reintegration into the community, and public safety concerns. The estimated savings to the State of Illinois based on Sheridan's lower reincarceration rate was $2.1 million.*

*Source: Olson, D., Rapp, J., Powers, M., & Karr, S. (2006, May). Sheridan Correctional Center therapeutic community: year 2. Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Program Evaluation Summary, 4(2), 1-4

Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council - Evaluation of the TDCJ Treatment Initiative

In 2001 and 2003, the Policy Council published comprehensive outcome studies that evidenced 7% and 5% recidivism rates, respectively, for those inmates who completed the entire continuum of care.

''...residential treatment and outpatient treatment resulted in lower recidivism rates and estimated savings of $60.5 million to the State of Texas.''

The study* consisted of 7,869 offenders who entered an in-prison substance abuse TC program known as a Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility (SAFPF). Eighty percent (80%) of these offenders were Gateway program graduates. The forty-four percent (44%) who completed in-prison treatment, transitional community-based residential treatment, and outpatient treatment had a recidivism rate of 5%, a decrease from 7% recidivism from the study published in 2001.

Additionally, the recidivism rate for non-completers of the program was 30% – 32%, well below the national average of 51%. The study demonstrated that use of the Texas concept of in-prison treatment combined with community-based residential treatment and outpatient treatment resulted in lower recidivism rates and estimated savings of $60.5 million to the State of Texas. Based on these findings, a key goal must be to increase the percentage of inmates completing the full continuum. Enhanced re-entry techniques are a must if this is to be achieved.

A focus of all corrections programming is the provision of extensive case management and referrals to community agencies to continue programming upon release from the institution.

*Source: Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council Biennial Report to the 78th Texas Legislature, January 2003.