Monitoring the Effectiveness of a New Jail Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program

• In Event: Roundtable: Incarceration Programs

Abstract

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) began an RSAT program in 2013 with the goals of 1) provision of successful substance abuse treatment, 2) prevention of substance abuse relapse, and 3) reduction of recidivism. The program consists of both in-custody and out-of-custody modules. This study examines the effectiveness of that RSAT program as implemented at the Lerdo Detention Facility in Bakersfield, California. An extensive set of initial data is collected by both record review and personal interview when an inmate enters the RSAT program. Inmates are followed for the duration of the 9-month program and up to 12 months’ post-completion. Out-of-custody data is collected for adherence to treatment programs, substance abuse relapse, continued education, employment, and housing placement. Recidivism as defined by re-arrest, re-conviction, and return to custody is monitored for up to 5 years. Comparisons are made between the RSAT participant groups and non-RSAT participant groups that have similar demographic and criminogenic characteristics. To examine immediate and longer-term outcomes, various statistical analyses are employed to check if there are any significant differences in relapse, recidivism, and the timing of relapse and recidivism between the experimental group and the control group.

Authors

• Heejong Jacob Joo, California State University, Bakersfield

• Debbie Pershadsingh, Kern County Sheriff’s Office

• Wendy Vela, Kern County Sheriff’s Office

• Ian Silva, Kern County Sheriff’s Office