Brief anger management programs with offenders: Outcomes and predictors of change

Abstract

Anger management interventions with offenders, particularly violent offenders, are a common form of rehabilitative activity. The rationale for addressing anger problems is clear-cut and there is good evidence that anger management can be effective with some client populations. Information relating to effectiveness with serious offenders, however, is sparse. An intervention study is reported in which offenders receiving anger management were compared with waiting list controls on a range of dependent measures. In general, the degree of pre-treatment/post-treatment change was small and experimental versus control differences were not statistically significant. The degree of improvement was found to be predictable from pre-treatment measures of anger and treatment readiness. Explanations of the low impact of anger management on violent offenders are discussed and recommendations made for improving outcomes.

Keywords:

• Anger management
• outcomes
• offenders

Acknowledgement

The research was supported by the Criminology Research Council, the Department of Correctional Services (SA), and the Department of Justice (WA). Thanks to all of the staff and offenders who participated in the research.