Javier Leung and Kassy Tyler

University of West Florida

Educational Statistics IIIDr. Carla Thompson

OutlineIntroductionPurpose StatementTherapeutic Community Pathways for Change Research QuestionsHypothesesResearch DesignMethodologyResultsRecommendations

IntroductionThe United States has 5% of the world’s population

and 25% of the world’s inmate population.Pathways for Change (PFC) has created a program

to effectively reduce recidivism one inmate at a time.

Inmates are immersed into a Therapeutic Community to learn basic life skills, rebuild self -esteem and develop habits to become productive citizens.

Objective: to take personal responsibility and remove inmates’ dependency on drugs.

Purpose StatementSubstance abuse has been

found to be a factor in recidivism.

TC’s provide a 24-hour–per day peer group community.

The 18-month therapeutic community program is offered to non-violent offenders with chemical dependency.

The purpose of this study is to identify factors which contribute to successful completion of the Pathways for Change program.

Therapeutic CommunityThese communities are defined as a “drug free

residential treatment setting that uses a hierarchical model of peer influence” (NIDA, 2008).

Governed by a strict set of rules monitored by peers who serve as key change agents

In a 2000 report from the New York State Commission on drugs and the courts, retention rates of up to 70% were found at the one year mark for substance abusers when given a choice to enter a TC.

Pathways for ChangeA faith-based therapeutic community An alternative sentencing option for non-

violent offenders with substance dependency. Inmates are taught to break the cycle of

destructive behavior following the three phase program:

Pathways for Change continued

New pro-social skills through modeling, peers, practice and reinforcement is one of the treatment principles found by the NIC ( 2005).

TC follows a model of treatment stages that incrementally increases an inmate’s level of personal and social responsibility (NIDA, 2002).

Inmates may be released back to detention for non-compliance, abusive behavior, substance abuse and other anti-social actions.

Pathways for Change continued

PFC employs a very limited staff and does not have a dedicated fund raising professional.

As a department of Baptist Health Care it is also limited to seeking funding through sources which are not of interest to the local hospital’s development efforts.

Future grant proposals showing results of the program will help in funding activities.

Research QuestionsWhich factors indicate a relationship in

successful program completion for offenders who enter the PFC program?

Which intervention factors contribute to successful program completion?

Data available: 1)clients’ ability to read and write, 2)choice to enter the treatment program, 3)prescription drug use, 4)chemicals of dependency, 5)employment and 6)marital status.

Hypotheses1 H0 There is no relationship between court mandated

admission and non-court mandated admission to the PFC program in regard to successful program completion.

H1 There is a relationship between court mandated admission and non-court mandated admission to the PFC program in regard to successful program completion.

2 H0 There is no relationship between income and successful program completion for clients in the PFC program.

H1 There is a relationship between income and successful program completion for clients in the PFC program.

Hypotheses3 H0 There is no relationship between prescription drug

usage and successful program completion for clients in the PFC program.

H1 There is a relationship between prescription drug usage and successful program completion for clients in the PFC program.

4 H0 There is a relationship between clients’ ability to read/write and the length of time to successfully complete the PFC program.

H1 There is no relationship between clients’ ability to read/write and the length of time to successfully complete the PFC program.

Hypotheses5 H0 There is a relationship between employment prior to

incarceration and successful program completion for clients in the PFC program.

H1 There is no relationship between employment prior to incarceration and successful program completion for clients in the PFC program.

Research DesignAction research design for analyzing

documents provided by the program director.Variables of interest/funding: demographics,

recidivism, drug abuse, medication usage and family and employment status at the time a client is admitted.

The team noted inconsistency in the coding of dichotomous variables.

Recoding all variables for consistency.

Research DesignAdditional documentation requested to fill

gaps in the data.For analysis purposes, both male and female

databases were combined.Additional variables based on literature:

length of time in the program, prescription drug use, graduation status and gender.

Quantitative analyses using chi square and discriminant function analysis were performed.

ResultsSignificant Chi-Squares

Prescription Drugs and Graduation

chi square value of 18.250 (X2 =18.250, p =.00, p < .05)

Court Mandated and Graduation

chi square value of 9.738 (X2 =9.738 p = .008, p <.05)

Employed Prior Incarceration

chi square value of 7.528 (X2 =7.528 p = .023, p < .05)

ResultsNon significant Chi Squares

Non significant Discriminant Analysis

Ability to write/read and graduation

chi square value of 3.621 (X2 =3.621, p = .164, p < .05)

Participating in Court Mandated Program

chi square value of 4.575 (X2 =4.575, p = .102, p < .05)

Income and Length of Program with Graduates and Non Graduates

Wilk’s lambda was not significant-A=0.713, X2 (2, N= 15) = 4.061, p <0.001.

Results of InterventionsSignificant Chi SquaresChemical Dependency Class

chi square value of 22.355 (X2 =22.355 p = .00, p < .05)

Foundations of Living

chi square value of 20.166 (X2 =20.166 p = .00, p < .05)

Business Technology

chi square value of 22.070 (X2 =22.070 p = .00, p < .05)

Vocational Rehabilitation

chi square value of 11.657 (X2 =11.657 p = .003, p < .05)

AA Support

chi square value of 18.433 (X2 =18.433 p = .00, p < .05)

Results of InterventionsNon significant Chi SquaresSocial Service Programming

chi square value of 1.449 (X2 =1.449 p = .485, p < .05)

Vocational Technical Training Program

chi square value of 1.248 (X2 =1.248 p = .536, p < .05)

Voluntary Involvement with PFC

chi square value of 4.028 (X2 =4.028 p = .133, p < .05)

Skills in Carpentry

chi square value of 2.098 (X2 =2.098 p = .350, p < .05)

RecommendationsA single feature of a

program or an intervention does not reduce recidivism, however a unification of principles contribute to successful reintegration (NIC, 2005).

RecommendationsThe mixture of client composition, staff

experience, program age, size, resources, and leadership style in the management of TCs provide individual change as a part of the global impact of community life” (De Leon , (2000), p. 9).

Researchers and stakeholders need to understand how a convergence of interventions in treatment programs, skill training for staff, and evaluation of services delivered, influence participants’ behavioral changes and development of social skills.

RecommendationsFuture research endeavors must keep in

mind that the effectiveness of the program depends on:Clearly articulated program An understandable statement of goals and

outcomesA rational connection between goals and

outcomes (Rutman, 1977).