Are You Committed? What Motivates Probationers To Be Committed To Probation And Treatment.

• In Event: Motivation for Change in Correctional Populations

Abstract

Commitment and motivation to initiate substance abuse treatment are important factors in whether a person follows through on probation and treatment orders. The Motivational Assistance Program to Initiate Treatment (MAPIT) is a randomized controlled trial using a computerized intervention and motivational interviewing (MI) to motivate probationers to initiate substance abuse treatment. Probationers are either randomized into the computerized, MI, or control group. Individuals randomized to MI receive two in-person sessions with a counselor, approximately 3-4 weeks apart. Through a content analysis this study examines the levels of commitment to probation and treatment (1-10 scale) and the reasons associated with this level that probationers (n=59) provided during the MI sessions. Researchers categorized reasons for commitment to establish common responses. Preliminary findings indicate that the majority of probationers completing session one and two express very high commitment to probation and treatment. However, commitment to probation slightly decreased at session two whereas treatment commitment slightly increased. For probation, the primary reasons were their family and not wanting to go to jail. For treatment, the reasons were being tired of using and family. Future directions for this study include examining survey data of self-reported criminal activity and treatment initiation at a six-month follow-up.

Authors

• Teneshia Thurman, George Mason University

• Jennifer Lerch, George Mason University

• Faye Taxman, George Mason University

• Scott T. Walters, University of North Texas Health Science Center