CBT and Court-Ordered Participants: An Evaluation of Kalamazoo County Community Corrections’ “I Must Think!” Program

• In Event: Risk Assessment, Recidivism, and Reintegration Among Offenders and Ex-prisoners

Abstract

This research examines the effectiveness of the cognitive-behavioral therapy program “I Must Think!” in preventing rearrest while an individual awaits sentencing or while an individual’s sentence is suspended and the longer term prevention of recidivism. Like previous evaluations of CBT programs, this study will measure the objective success of the program by assessing its impact on recidivism at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year following the participants’ last completed class. However, unlike previous evaluations, this study will also assess the subjective success of the program by surveying both participants and the probation officers in charge of overseeing the program participants. Results from the participant and probation officer surveys along with 3 and 6 month recidivism rates will be presented.

Authors

• Patrick Cundiff, Western Michigan University

• Blake Darling, Western Michigan University

• Sam Imbody, Western Michigan University