Therapeutic community dropouts: criminal behavior five years after treatment

Two hundred and two male dropouts, mainly heroin abusers averaging 3 to 6 years out of treatment, were sampled from the 1970-1971 Phoenix House admissions by race and time in program (less than 1 month to more than 2 years). Criminal justice arrest records were compared between three pre- and all posttreatment years. Percent and rate of arrest declined significantly in followup. Magnitude of reductions was uniform across race and legal status, varied by age, but increased systematically by time in program. Results replicated and extended earlier findings, confirming long-term positive change in criminal behavior associated with length of stay in the therapeutic community.