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e
of less violence and greater drug use. TC graduates did not differ from the comparison group on
race, age, education, marital status, or previous offense, but TC graduates were more likely to be
admitted for possessing or selling drugs, and had a higher recidivism risk score.4
Six months after leaving prison on parole, ITC graduates were less likely to be rearrested
than the comparison group (7 % v. 16 %), based on criminal records checks. Overall, TC
graduates evidenced less criminal involvement than the comparison group, based on a composite
index of parole officer reports, self-reported arrests, and self-reported illegal activity (41% v.
55%). TC graduates were less likely to report using alcohol (5 % v. 35%), marijuana (2 % v. 8
%), or crack (5 % v. 12 %). Drug testing (hair tests) confirmed that TC graduates were less likely
to use cocaine (38% v. 55%), although base rates of relapse obtained by drug testing are
obviously much higher than rates obtained by selfreports. TC graduates were less likely to be
unemployed (12% v. 22%), and more likely to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) (55% v. 31%)
and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) (63% v. 31 %) than comparison parolees.
The Key-Crest Programs
Recent studies in the Delaware prison system further suggest the efficacy of prison-based
TC, especially when combined with a TC-based work release component (Inciardi, 1995; Inciardi,
Martin, But& Hooper, and Harrison Inciardi, 1997). The program is built around two TC’s: the
“Key,” a prison-based TC for men, and the “Crest,” a residential work release center for both men
and women. The program employs a three-stage treatment model. First, the Key, modeled after
the Stay’n Out program, is a 12-month residential TC based in the institution. The second stage,
0
The authors suggest that biases in selection and attrition actually provide a more conservative
test of treatment effects, since the experimental group would appear more likely to fail. However,
further selection bias is possible due to the comparison group parolees being selected fiom a pool
of rejected TC-eligible inmates.
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This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.