Motivation for Treatment Among Women Offenders in Prison-Based Treatment and Longitudinal Outcomes Among Those Who Participate in Community Aftercare

Abstract

Participation in aftercare may reduce risk of recidivism among women offenders with substance use problems following their release to the community. This study examines motivation to participate in aftercare among women offenders and whether their participation in both in-custody and aftercare treatment reduces their risk of recidivism. Surveys were conducted with women (N = 1,158) in prison-based substance abuse treatment programs. Return-to-prison was examined among participants in community-based aftercare (N = 1,182) over 12 months following treatment discharge. Higher treatment motivation was associated with child welfare involvement, prior treatment, and use of “harder” drugs; ethnic minority women had lower treatment motivation compared with White women. Participants who completed the aftercare program, or who had longer treatment duration, and those who had participated in an in-prison program prior to parole had reduced risk of recidivism. Study findings suggest the value of community aftercare for women offenders, particularly when combined with prior in-prison treatment.

Keywords:

• aftercare
• recidivism
• residential drug treatment
• treatment motivation
• women offenders

Notes

1. Bloom, Owen & Covington (2003) define gender-responsive treatment as “creating an environment through site selection, staff selection, program development, content, and material that reflects an understanding of the realities of women and girls and that addresses the issues of the participants” (p. 75).

2. Senate Bill 491, Chapters 500 and 502, Statutes of 1998, California Penal Code Section 3054.

3. Senate Bill 1453, enacted in 2007 as Section 2933.4 of the California Penal Code, allows eligible participants who successfully complete in-custody substance abuse treatment and who complete 150 days of residential continuing care to be discharged from parole. This option was not in effect at the time of the survey.