Recidivism Outcomes from a BJA-Funded Randomized Controlled Trial of a Gender-Responsive Probation Supervision Model

• In Event: Gender-Responsive and Trauma-Informed Probation and Parole

Abstract

Funded by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Women’s Reentry Assessment, Programming, and Services (WRAPS) probation model was developed by the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice, Women and Family Services Unit to improve community supervision practices for justice-involved women. The WRAPS model is an enhanced wraparound, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed supervision model that paired Community Health Specialists (CHSs) with probation officers to improve service delivery and social support. This study reflects a randomized control trial, mixed-methods outcome evaluation that explores the experiences of women engaged in the WRAPS model (n = 49) compared to women in a control group who received ‘gender-responsive supervision as usual’ (n = 44). A major focus on the quantitative data was on recidivism-related outcomes using survival analysis (e.g., prison admissions, jail bookings, revocations). Findings revealed that while over half of the women in both groups had at least one jail booking, both groups had low revocations and low prison admissions rates. When paired with qualitative findings, the WRAPS model was implicated as being more successful among staff and women clients. Overall results indicate that gender-responsive probation supervision, on the whole, is effective.

Authors

• Emily J. Salisbury, Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah

• Linsey A. Belisle, University of Houston - Downtown