Related Experiment Videos
Treating drunk drivers with Moral Reconation Therapy: a two-year recidivism study
Psychological Reports
|June 1, 1990
Summary
Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) significantly reduced Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) re-arrests for male inmates post-release. Continued MRT aftercare further decreased recidivism rates among this population.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Psychology
- Addiction Treatment
Background:
- Recidivism rates for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) convictions remain a significant public safety concern.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapies are increasingly explored as interventions to reduce substance-related offenses.
- Limited research exists on the long-term effectiveness of specific therapeutic modalities like Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) for incarcerated populations with DWI convictions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) in reducing post-release DWI arrests and subsequent sentences among male inmates.
- To compare recidivism rates between inmates who received MRT during incarceration and a control group who did not.
- To assess the impact of post-release MRT aftercare on recidivism outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental design comparing 115 male inmates treated with MRT during incarceration to a control group of 65 eligible but untreated inmates.
- Post-release arrest records were collected for both groups over a two-year period.
- A subgroup of 24 treated inmates who participated in MRT aftercare was analyzed separately for recidivism.
Main Results:
- The MRT treatment group had a lower rate of post-release DWI arrests (10.4%) compared to the control group (15.6%).
- Treated subjects also received fewer additional sentences (14.3%) than the control group (21.5%).
- The MRT aftercare group demonstrated significantly lower post-release DWI arrest rates (4.2%) and reincarceration rates (8.3%).
Conclusions:
- Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) during incarceration is an effective intervention for reducing DWI recidivism.
- Continued participation in MRT after release significantly enhances its effectiveness in preventing re-arrests and reincarceration.
- These findings support the integration of MRT, including aftercare components, into correctional rehabilitation programs for DWI offenders.