This study assessed 36-month recidivism outcomes for participants in a prison therapeutic community (TC) program with aftercare, using an intent-to-treat design with random assignment.
Outcomes for 478 felons at 36 months replicated findings of an earlier report on 12- and 24-month outcomes, showing the best outcomes for those who completed both in-prison and aftercare TC programs. At 36 months, 27 percent of the prison TC plus aftercare completers recidivated, compared with 75 percent for other groups. In addition, a significant positive relationship was found between the amount of time spent in treatment and the time until return for the parolees who recidivated; however, the reduced recidivism rates for in-prison treatment found only at 12 and 24 months was not maintained at 36 months. (publisher abstract modified)