The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for reentry: an analysis of the serious violent offender reentry initiative data
Date
2013
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
With over one million prisoners released from prison every year and fifty percent of those re-arrested within 3 years, the factors related to successful re-entry have become an important area of inquiry. The current study examined the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on prisoner reentry, utilizing data from the Serious Violent Offender Reentry Initiative. Specifically, this paper used discrete time survival analysis to examine whether four components of CBT (anger management programs, assistance with life skills, assistance with working on personal relationships, and changing attitudes toward crime) decreased the probability of rearrest up to 15 months post release. Findings indicated the changing of criminal attitudes to be the most successful component of CBT in regards to rearrest. Future research and limitations are discussed.