An RCT of the Thinking for a Change (T4C) Program in the Oregon DOC

• In Event: Programming for People for Prison

Abstract

Thinking for a Change (T4C) is a cognitive-behavioral curriculum developed by Drs. Jack Bush, Barry Glick, and Juliana Taymans under a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Corrections. The T4C program was designed for justice-involved individuals, and it has been adopted widely across the United States. Although prior research has observed reductions in recidivism among T4C program participants, this literature base is largely comprised of quasi-experiments undertaken in the community context (e.g., Golden et al., 2006; Lowenkamp et al., 2009). There is a need for more methodologically rigorous evaluations of T4C, including those conducted in institutional settings. In this presentation, we report preliminary findings from a randomized control trial of the T4C program in the Oregon Department of Corrections. This investigation focuses on a population which stands to benefit the most from T4C by learning critical skills to improve their thought processes and behavioral choices: incarcerated men at high risk of placement in long-term restrictive housing (i.e., solitary confinement). The findings of the study center on the impact that program participation has on two primary outcomes of interest, including engagement in serious/violent institutional misconduct and placement in restrictive housing. The policy implications of the study findings are discussed.

Authors

• Ryan Labrecque, RTI International

• Katherine Ginsburg Kempany, Oregon Department of Corrections

• Michelle Grendahl, Oregon Department of Corrections

• Erik Domenghini, Oregon Department of Corrections