The Creation and Validation of the Readiness for Change during Reentry Measure

• In Event: Elucidating the Mechanisms of Reentry

Abstract

Over 640,000 people were released from federal and state prisons in the United States in 2015 (Carson & Anderson, 2016). Given the scope of mass reentry in the U.S., and the considerable investment made by federal, state, and local governments to facilitate successful reentry and reintegration into the community, there is a pressing need to better understand the factors that predict successful reintegration. One construct that is emerging in treatment and reentry literature is individual motivation/readiness for change. The current study provides an overview of the creation and initial validation of a new measure of readiness for change during reentry. Using data from the Elucidating the Mechanisms of Reentry study (n = 70), this study investigates the psychometric properties of the readiness for change during reentry measure and examines correlations between total and subscale scores and reintegration outcomes (e.g., self-reported recidivism, employment, and social service utilization). The study findings are discussed in the context of existing reentry literature and implications for reentry programming are considered.

Authors

• Michael S Caudy, University of Central Florida

• James V. Ray, University of Central Florida

• Jill Viglione, University of Central Florida

• Rebecca J Walter, University of Texas at San Antonio