RESEARCH REPORT JANUARY, 2006 URBAN INSTITUTE Justice Policy Center Nancy G. La Vigne, Ph.D. Rebecca L. Naser, Ph.D. Colleen Owens The Criminon Program Evaluation: Phase I research for safer communities URBAN INSTITUTE Justice Policy Center 2100 M Street NW Washington, DC 20037 http://www.urban.org © 2006 Urban Institute The opinions contained herein are those of the authors(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders. i TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................... 1 OVERVIEW OF CRIMINON ON-SITE COURSE MODULES .................................................................. 2 Communications Course ............................................................................................................................ 2 Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 2 Content ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Delivery Mode........................................................................................................................................ 5 Program Purpose .................................................................................................................................... 5 Expected Outcomes ................................................................................................................................6 Learning Skills for Life Course.................................................................................................................. 6 Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Content ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Delivery Mode........................................................................................................................................ 9 Program purpose..................................................................................................................................... 9 Expected Outcomes ................................................................................................................................9 The Way to Happiness Course ................................................................................................................. 10 Overview .............................................................................................................................................. 10 Content ................................................................................................................................................. 10 Delivery Mode...................................................................................................................................... 12 Program Purpose .................................................................................................................................. 12 Expected Outcome................................................................................................................................12 Recognizing and Overcoming Antisocial Behavior Course ..................................................................... 13 Overview .............................................................................................................................................. 13 Content ................................................................................................................................................. 13 Handling and Disconnection ................................................................................................................ 16 Delivery Mode...................................................................................................................................... 16 Purpose ................................................................................................................................................. 16 Expected Outcome................................................................................................................................16 Instructor Training.................................................................................................................................... 17 Overview .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Content ................................................................................................................................................. 17 CRIMINON LOGIC MODEL...................................................................................................................... 21 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 21 Goals......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Building Moral Values and Restoring Self-Esteem.................................................................................. 22 Needs Addressed .................................................................................................................................. 22 Programming Components................................................................................................................... 22 Expected Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 22 Cognitive and Behavioral Skills ............................................................................................................... 23 Needs Addressed .................................................................................................................................. 23 Programming Components................................................................................................................... 23 Expected Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 23 Life Skills ................................................................................................................................................. 24 Needs Addressed .................................................................................................................................. 24 Programming Components................................................................................................................... 24 Expected Outcomes .............................................................................................................................. 24 ADDITIONAL CRIMINON COURSE OFFERINGS................................................................................. 32 SITE VISITS OF CRIMINON..................................................................................................................... 32 BEST PRACTICES IN PRISON REHABILITATION PROGRAMMING................................................ 34 Review of Evaluation Literature on Rehabilitation Programs.................................................................. 34 Cognitive-Behavioral Skills ................................................................................................................. 34 Life Skills ............................................................................................................................................. 36 General Correctional Program Evaluations .......................................................................................... 36 Limitations to Evaluations of Prison Rehabilitation Programs................................................................. 38 ii ANALYSIS OF CRIMINON CURRICULUM CONTENT AND THE RESEARCH LITERATURE....... 38 Cognitive Behavioral Skills Development ............................................................................................... 39 Life Skills Development........................................................................................................................... 40 Risk assessment and targeted programming to the individual.............................................................. 40 Substance abuse treatment.................................................................................................................... 41 Education.............................................................................................................................................. 41 Continuity of programming and services from prison to community................................................... 41 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................ 42 REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................. 43 iii INTRODUCTION In 1972, Criminon, a prison rehabilitation program, was established