In-Jail Therapeutic Community Drug Treatment:

Impact on Rearrest Rates

James K. Cunningham, Ph.D.

Research and Education on Addiction and Community Health (REACH)

Department of Family and Community Medicine

The University of Arizona

4th Annual Drug Abuse SymposiumCharles Drew University of Medicine and Science

Research Question

Is participation in a 90-day in-custody therapeutic community drug treatment program associated with a reduction in arrests?

Setting & Program

• Theo Lacy Jail in Orange County, CA

• Jail for males only

• Program Type—Therapeutic Community

• Program Period—Calendar Year 2006

Research Design

• Rearrest rates of program participants

(n = 186) were compared to rearrest rates of inmates who applied to the program

(n = 256) but were not accepted.

• Both groups were followed for 12 months post release.

Treatment Comparison

White 46.2% 49.1%

Latino 47.8% 41.9%

African American 4.8% 4.2%

Married 17.2% 18.9%

Single 78.5% 75.8%

Median Age 31.0 30.0

Violence Charge 8.6% 14.3%

Property Charge 37.1% 27.5%

Treatment and Comparison Groups During 12 Months Post Release: Percentage Rearrested

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Month Post Release

Perc

ent .

Treatment Group

Comparison Group61.5%

48.6%

Conclusion

• In contrast to the comparison group, treatment participants had lower rearrest rates throughout the year following release.

• This is consistent with the proposition that the program is helping to reduce rearrests among its participants.