Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Adults Prisons: The Impact on Prison Misconduct

• In Event: Misconduct in Correctional Environments

Abstract

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is becoming the norm in correctional treatment. Little research on adult prisoners has been reported to date however, with most CBT research coming from juvenile samples and probationers. To address this gap, the current project evaluates The University of Cincinnati Cognitive Behavioral Intervention: Core Curriculum. This paper presents an overview of the study, how COVID-19 impacted it, and preliminary outcomes on disciplinary infractions. The study started as a randomized trial, but COVID-19 required prison units to be isolated and made randomization impossible. Thus entropy matching techniques are also utilized. Data from surveys and official misconducts are presented. Findings suggest that participants demonstrated changes in criminal thinking and a difference in the rate of misconducts compared to non-participants. Treatment programs should have impact participants in ways that are demonstrable in the immediate environment. Using misconducts as an outcome not only provides initial impact assessments sooner than post release recidivism (which is also being measured) , it is a useful measure for the Department of Corrections, for whom safety is a top priority. This papers highlights this approach. Conducting research during a pandemic is also discusses.

Authors

• Emalie Rell, University of Delaware

• Daniel O'Connell, University of Delaware

• Christy Visher, University of Delaware