www.ibr.tcu.edu/
pubs/recent/
si-CJB07.html

Questions
and Additional
Information:
ibr@tcu.edu

Site Comments:
Webmaster

Updated:
December 11, 2007

Simpson, D. D., & Knight, K. (Guest Eds.). (2007).  Offender needs and functioning assessments (Special Issue).  Criminal Justice and Behavior.

1)  Simpson, D. D., & Knight, K. (2007).  Offender needs and functioning assessments from a national program.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1105-1112.

Abstract:  In 2002, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded the “Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies” (CJ-DATS) cooperative agreement.  A key objective of this initiative included the goal of studying how treatment effectiveness is achieved with regard to therapeutic, organizational, and managerial processes.  To this end, the CJ-DATS “Performance Indicators for Corrections (PIC)” multi-center protocol centered on studies of client performance indicators, focusing on the evaluation of the TCU Criminal Justice Client Evaluation of Self and Treatment (CJ CEST) and the NDRI Client Assessment Inventory (CAI) in diverse correctional settings.  This special issue describes these studies, representing one of the first of several sets of studies being prepared as part of CJ-DATS.
  

2)  Garner, B. R., Knight, K., Flynn, P. M., Morey, J. T., & Simpson, D. D.  (2007).  Measuring offender attributes and engagement in treatment using the Client Evaluation of Self and Treatment.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1113-1130.

Abstract:  Monitoring drug abuse treatment delivery and progress requires the use of reliable and valid instruments to measure client motivation, psychosocial and cognitive functioning, and other treatment process dynamics.  As part of the CJ-DATS protocol to examine client performance indicators for corrections-based treatment populations, this study examined psychometric properties of the TCU Criminal Justice Client Evaluation of Self and Treatment (CJ CEST).  The sample included 3,266 offenders from 26 corrections-based treatment programs located in 6 states.  Overall, the client assessment demonstrated good reliabilities at individual and program levels, and in test-retest administrations.  Additionally, evidence for construct validity was favorable.  The CJ CEST is a brief yet comprehensive instrument that effectively and efficiently measures client needs and functioning at intake.  It also is appropriate for use during treatment to monitor client progress over time.
  

3)  Sacks, J., McKendrick, M., & Kressel, D. (2007).  Measuring offender progress in treatment using the Client Assessment Inventory.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1131-1142.

Abstract:  The accurate and reliable assessment of client psychological and cognitive change during corrections-based substance abuse treatment has gained increasing importance over the last decade as criminal justice systems seek to evaluate and understand treatment and the elements associated with long-term change. The Client Assessment Inventory (CAI) is a self-report instrument for measuring client change during treatment across 14 cognitive and behavioral domains. This study focused on assessing psychometric properties of the CAI instrument (reliability, internal consistency), based on a version that was adapted for use in criminal justice settings.  Data were gathered from 1,170 male and female offenders by 5 CJ-DATS Research Centers for examining the CAI within different sub-populations of offenders (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender), across a variety of correctional treatment settings.  Overall, findings supported the CAI as a consistent, reliable, and easily administered instrument for measuring client performance and progress in treatment in both Therapeutic Community (TC) and non-TC corrections-based substance abuse treatment settings.
  

4)  Staton-Tindall, M., Garner, B. R., Morey, J. T., Leukefeld, C., Krietemeyer, J., Saum, C. A., & Oser, C. B.  (2007).  Gender differences in treatment engagement among a sample of incarcerated substance abusers.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1143-1156. 

Abstract:  Gender differences have been noted for patterns of drug use, psychological functioning, and criminal thinking, as well as for factors associated with treatment entry, retention, and outcomes among substance abusers.  However, research seldom has focused on psychosocial attributes associated with treatment engagement among male and female substance abusers, and how those factors might differ across gender-specific treatment programs.  This study was based on 2,774 male and female substance abusers participating in 20 prison-based treatment programs located in 5 different states.  Gender also was examined as a moderator of the relationship between psychosocial and criminal thinking variables with treatment engagement.  Findings showed that inmates in female treatment programs reported more severe psychosocial dysfunction, less criminal thinking, and more favorable treatment engagement than did their male counterparts, and there was a stronger negative relationship between psychosocial functioning and treatment engagement as well.  Implications for treatment interventions with a gender-specific focus are discussed.
  

5)  Dembo, R., Turner, C. W., & Jainchill, N. (2007).  An assessment of criminal thinking among incarcerated youths in three States.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1157-1167.

Abstract:  The TCU Criminal Thinking Scales (CTS) have been shown to predict outcomes for institutionalized adult offenders, but potential applications with adolescent offenders have not been explored. This study examined 151 male and 52 female incarcerated adolescents, comparing their CTS scores with norms for incarcerated adult offenders. The adolescent sample had comparatively higher scores than the adult supervision sample on four scales (Entitlement, Justification, Personal Irresponsibility, Power of Orientation), but not on Criminal Rationalization.  Convergent validity analyses indicated that CTS scores were correlated with prior history of criminal behavior, substance use, family dysfunction, and DSM-IV diagnoses of Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Thus, the CTS instrument provides useful diagnostic information involving a constellation of adolescent problem behaviors that predict poor outcomes following incarceration. It also may be used to measure individual variations in responses to treatment, particularly in relation to successful transition back into the community by incarcerated adolescents.
  

6)  Saum, C. A., O’Connell, D. J., Martin, S. S., Hiller, M. L., Bacon, G. A., & Simpson, D. D.  (2007).  Tempest in a TC:  Changing treatment providers for in-prison therapeutic communities.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1168-1178.

Abstract:  Corrections officials frequently use private contractors to operate in-prison therapeutic community (TC) treatment programs.  However, the use of competitive bidding in contracting for these services results occasionally in treatment provider changes.  Few studies have focused on whether or not such change affects offender treatment experiences, particularly with respect to client motivation and treatment engagement.  Quantitative assessments of offender functioning were made at two points in time during the course of treatment provider change.  In 3 in-prison TC treatment facilities that experienced a tumultuous change in provider, there was a decrease in client-counselor rapport and peer support ratings, as well as a drop in client scores on treatment readiness, participation, and satisfaction during the 1-year evaluation period.  Interviews with offenders and staff amplified concerns over the disruptions that took place.  After reviewing evidence from comparison programs that avoided similar disruptions in client functioning, strategies are recommended for better provider transition planning.
  

7)  Roberts, E. A., Contois, M. W., Willis, J. C., Sr., Worthington, M. R., & Knight, K.  (2007).  Assessing offender needs and performance for planning and monitoring criminal justice drug treatment.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1179-1187.

Abstract:  With rising concerns about the use of treatment coercion in both correctional and community settings, increased awareness and focus is being placed on "motivation for change" and "treatment readiness" as dynamic factors relevant to individual treatment planning.  Additionally, within corrections-based treatment populations, the need for targeting criminal thinking and attitudes as primary treatment issues also has been well established.  The importance of these issues to the effectiveness of treatment programming highlights the need for instruments that can reliably assess offender risk and needs, guide the treatment planning process, and monitor progress over time.  This study documents how the TCU CJ CEST and CTS instruments were used to inform treatment planning and service delivery within a large, intensive therapeutic community program in the state of Virginia.
  

8)  Farabee, D., Knight, K., Garner, B. R., & Calhoun, S.  (2007).  The Inmate Pre-Release Assessment for re-entry planning.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1188-1197.

Abstract:  The Inmate Pre-Release Assessment (IPASS) was developed specifically as a measure of post-release risks for prison-based substance abuse treatment graduates.  By taking into account historical drug use and criminal activity of inmates as well as their performance during prison-based treatment, the IPASS calculates a “priority” score indicating the relative need for more (versus less) intensive treatment services upon release.  The present study used data from offenders paroling from prisons in a Southwest (N = 127) and Midwest (N = 75) state to examine psychometric properties of the IPASS subscales.  All components showed strong internal consistency, with reliability coefficients above .80 for the TCU Drug Screen, Client Evaluation of Treatment, and Counselor Evaluation of Client scales.  In addition, construct validity ranged from good to excellent.  The paper discusses further research being conducted to refine how the client and counselor scales are incorporated functionally into the IPASS priority score and how these scores will be examined in relation to aftercare participation and post-release outcomes.
  

9)  Sacks, S., Melnick, G., Coen, C., Banks, S., Friedmann, P. D., Grella, C., Knight, K., & Zlotnick, C. (2007).  CJDATS Co-Occurring Disorders Screening Instrument for Mental Disorders:  A validation study.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1198-1215. 

  
10)  Taxman, F. S., Cropsey, K. L., Young, D. W., & Wexler, H. (2007).  Screening, assessment, and referral practices in adult correctional settings:   A national perspective.  Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(9), 1216-1234.

Lists by Year

2008   Abstracts
2007   Abstracts
2006   Abstracts
2005   Abstracts
2004   Abstracts
2003   Abstracts
2002   Abstracts
2001   Abstracts
2000   Abstracts
1999   Abstracts
1998   Abstracts
1997   Abstracts
1996   Abstracts
1995   Abstracts
1994   Abstracts
1993   Abstracts
1992   Abstracts
1991   Abstracts
1990   Abstracts

Process, Outcome, and Dissemination Studies
DATAR
By Year
By Topic

Correctional Treatment Outcome Evaluations
CJ-DATS

Cognitive Intervention Studies
CETOP

Organizational Attributes and Program Resources
TCOM

National Treatment Outcome Evaluations
DATOS
By Year
By Topic
DARP
By Year
By Topic

Special Issues:
· Women & Children
· Drugs in the Workplace
· HIV/AIDS Outreach
· Inhalant Use by Youth

Home | Manuals | Forms | Evidence |
Publications | Newsletters | Presentations |
Staff | Projects | About IBR |
What's New | Other Links | Downloads
Search | Contents | Site Map |

Copyright and Terms of Use
Privacy Policy