Evaluating a Cognitive Life Skills Program for Community Supervised Offenders: An Assessment of Treatment Outcomes

• In Event: Community Programs for and Supervision of Reentering Individuals

Abstract

The presentation utilizes data provided by Pennsylvania’s Board of Probation & Parole (PBPP) about offenders who completed the Cognitive Life Skills program developed by the National Curriculum and Training Institute. Research reveals that cognitive-behavioral approaches for offender rehabilitation have measured success for reducing rates of recidivism. General findings from this analysis showed more than a five percentage point reduction in recidivism between program completers with a matched group of offenders who did not receive the program and an eight percentage point reduction in recidivism among high-risk offenders only. Additional findings indicated offenders who competed the program sooner after being released from prison showed a lower percentage of recidivism compared with the matched group of offenders.

Overall, findings indicate that the CLS curriculum addresses critical issues related to criminogenic needs that current evidenced-based practices indicate are associated with criminal behaviors. Also, these findings reinforce the commitment that PBPP has to cognitive-behavioral strategies and shows clear evidence that PBPP facilitators and staff play a critical role for delivering effective programming to its supervised offender population.

Authors

• Michael E. Antonio, West Chester University

• Andrew Crossett, West Chester University