Evaluation of Prison-Based Drug Treatment in Pennsylvania, 2000-2001

The purpose of this study was to examine multiple treatmentprocess measures and post-release outcomes for inmates whoparticipated in Therapeutic Community (TC) drug treatment programs orcomparison groups provided by the Pennsylvania Department ofCorrections at five state prisons. The project attempted to examinemore closely the relationships among inmate characteristics, treatmentprocess, and treatment outcomes than previous studies in order toexplore critical issues in prison-based drug treatment programming andpolicies. Researchers examined in-treatment measures and multiplepost-release outcomes for inmates who participated in TC drugtreatment programs or comparison groups at five state prisons:Graterford, Houtzdale, Cresson, Waymart, and Huntingdon. Matchedcomparison groups were made up of TC-eligible inmates who participatedin less intensive forms of treatment (e.g., short-term drug educationand outpatient treatment groups) due to a shortage of intensivetreatment slots at the five institutions. Included in the treatmentsample were all current TC residents as of January 1, 2000. Newsubjects were added to the study as they were admitted to treatmentprograms. Between January 1 and November 30, 2000, data on all inmatesadmitted to or discharged from alcohol or drug treatment programs werecollected on a monthly basis. Monthly tracking was continuedthroughout the study to determine treatment outcomes (e.g., successfulvs. unsuccessful). TC clients were asked to complete additionalself-report measures that tapped psychological constructs and inmateperceptions of the treatment experience, and TC counselors were askedto complete periodic reassessments of each inmate's participation intreatment. Self-reports of treatment process and psychologicalfunctioning were gathered within 30 days after admission, again aftersix months, again at the end of 12 months, and again at discharge ifthe inmate remained in TC longer than 12 months. Counselor ratings ofinmate participation in treatment were similarly gathered one month,six months, and 12 months following admission to treatment. Afterrelease, both treatment and comparison groups were tracked over timeto monitor rearrest, reincarceration, drug use, and employment.Measures can be broken down into the following four categories andtheir sources: (1) Inmate Background Factors were collected from thePennsylvania Additive Classification System (PACT), the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Corrections Screening Instrument (PACSI), and the TCU(Texas Christian University) Drug Screen. (2) InstitutionalIndicators: Impacts Internal to the Prison Environment were collectedfrom the Department of Corrections Misconduct Database, research andprogram records, and TCU Resident Evaluation of Self and Treatment(REST) forms. (3) Intermediate or "Proximal" Outcomes: Reductions inRisk for Drug Use and Criminal Behavior were collected from researchand program records, TCU Counselor Rating of Client (CRC) forms, andTCU Resident Evaluation of Self and Treatment (REST) forms. (4)Post-Release Indicators: Inmate Behavior Upon Release from Prison werecollected from the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole,Pennsylvania state police records provided by the PennsylvaniaCommission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), and the Department ofCorrections inmate records system.