NCJ Number
237322
Date Published
April 2002
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of Key-Crest, Delaware's treatment program for substance-abusing offenders.
Abstract
Evaluations consistently document that Key-Crest reduces drug relapse and criminal recidivism. For example, 77 percent of a group of graduates who had been assigned to Key-Crest (which some did not complete) and had a history of heavy drug use were arrest-free 1 year after the 6-month Key-Crest work-release regimen, compared to 46 percent for a comparison group (no Key-Crest). Evaluations consistently document that Key-Crest reduces drug relapse and criminal recidivism. For example, 77 percent of a group of Key-Crest graduates who had been assigned to Key-Crest (which some did not complete) and had a history of heavy drug use were arrest-free 1 year after the 6-month Key-Crest work-release regimen, compared to 46 percent for a comparison group (no Key-Crest). Additionally, Key-Crest completers are significantly more likely to be employed 18 months after leaving prison. Findings show that the cost-effectiveness implications derived from an analysis of 1997 data determined that, relative to a comparison group, in the first year after the release of a Key-Crest completer, Delaware saved $938 in avoided incarceration costs, and $995 for each offender who completed Key-Crest and Aftercare; excluded savings resulted from less crime, lower health care costs, and the like. List of available resources and 22 notes