Health outcomes, program completion, and criminal recidivism among participants in the Rural Alcohol Diversion program, Australia

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol use and dependence are common among people involved in the criminal justice system but there have been few efforts to assess the utility of diversionary programs for defendants whose offending is related to alcohol use.

Method: This paper analyses program completion, health outcomes and recidivism among 202 participants in the Rural Alcohol Diversion (RAD) program, Australia. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of program completion. Paired t-tests were used to assess changes in alcohol use, general health and mental health from program entry to exit. Recidivism was assessed using Cox proportional hazards modelling.

Results: Being male was associated with increased odds of program completion at p = .05. Among participants who completed the program, there were reductions in alcohol use and psychological distress, and improvements in general and mental health. The only predictor of re-offending was number of prior convictions.

Conclusions: These findings are suggestive of improved health for RAD participants but do not indicate that completion of RAD is associated with reduced offending. Further research employing a control group is needed to determine if the changes noted in this study are a direct effect of the RAD program.

• Alcohol
• diversion programs
• treatment

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Karen Patterson and Bruce Flaherty of the NSW Attorney General's Department, Kevin Roberts and Peter Didcott from the NSW Department of Health and Craig Jones and Rohan Lulham of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research for assistance throughout the project and in preparation of this paper. NDARC is core-funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

¹The Queensland indigenous alcohol diversion program is available only for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people appearing in either the magistrates courts for alcohol-related offences or the children's court for child protection matters where alcohol misuse plays a part: http://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/Legal+Information/The+justice+system/Criminal+court+process/Queensland+Indigenous+alcohol+diversion+program+QIADP.htm#what.