Responsivity Adherence in Juvenile Drug Court: Examining the Impact on Substance Use Outcome

• In Event: Improving Offender Outcomes in Correctional Populations 3

Abstract

Despite extensive research on the Risk‐Need‐Responsivity model (RNR; Andrews, Bonta, & Hoge, 1990), it has not been widely tested in the substance abuse treatment context. The RNR model was developed to guide correctional programs in reducing recidivism; and though the research supports the use of the RNR model for this purpose, it is unclear whether it reduces related behaviors, such as substance use. Additionally, the majority of RNR research has focused on adults and comparatively fewer studies have examined its relevance to juveniles. Although the core principles of the RNR model include the risk, need, and responsivity principles, the risk and need principles are well-understood, and the responsivity principle remains understudied (Andrews & Bonta, 2010). This research study is one component of a larger study intended to elaborate on the understanding of the responsivity principle in the context of juvenile substance abuse treatment. The analyses reported examined the association between adherence to the responsivity principle and substance use among 1,176 juvenile drug court participants. Secondary analysis was conducted on data originally collected by Chestnut Health Systems under contract with the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Results and implications are discussed. This study was funded under the NIJ Award #2013-IJ-CX-0008.

Author

• Liana Taylor, George Mason University