An outcomes report released by GEO Reentry Services and conducted with the cooperation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons suggests that the company’s residential reentry treatment programming leads to a reduction in criminal thinking.
Analysts collected data from male and female residents at the Leidel Residential Reentry Center in Houston upon both intake and discharge from the center’s three-to-six month residential treatment program, and subsequent analysis indicated a significant drop in criminal thinking upon discharge.
Criminal thinking, which can be defined as antisocial cognitions and attitudes, is one of the top four risk factors that drive recidivism, according to research on what works for reducing criminal behavior. GEO Reentry’s analysts used the Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scales, or CTS, to measure Leidel residents’ antisocial cognitions and attitudes, and outcomes suggest that GEO Reentry residential programs can reduce criminal thinking patterns, therefore lowering the potential for future recidivism.
In analyzing the data, evaluators looked at pre- and post-treatment CTS scores across six scales for 77 male and female residents at the Leidel RRC from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019, with the average treatment episode lasting approximately five months, or 150 days. Data collected for medium- and high-risk participants showed a significant decrease in recidivism risk, both clinically and statistically, with an average 14% reduction, or 3.5 points, across all six scales of criminal behavior.
The six scales of CTS are: entitlement, justification, power orientation, cold heartedness, criminal rationalization and personal irresponsibility. High scores in “entitlement” are associated with an offender’s belief that the world “owes them” and that they deserve special consideration, while high scores in the “justification” category may be associated with perceived social injustice. High scores on the “power orientation” scale are associated with higher levels of aggression and controlling behaviors.
A resident who receives high scores in “cold heartedness” demonstrates a lack of emotional involvement, while high scores on the “criminal rationalization” scale are associated with negative attitudes towards authority. Finally, a high score in “personal irresponsibility” is associated with non-acceptance of criminal actions and blaming others.
The Leidel Residential Reentry Center provides transitional services for men and women returning from prison, with a focus on successful reentry to community life, and programming serves to address the underlying reasons for a resident’s antisocial behavior to change criminal thinking and behavior. Through GEO Reentry’s Continuum of Care evidence-based treatment model, residents receive Cognitive Behavioral Treatment, which is integrated with post-release support services; Moral Reconation Therapy; and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abuse.
The Leidel RRC also offers employment and education assistance, coordinating with local schools and universities for GED testing and employing an on-site social services coordinator who works with residents to find employment. In addition, the Leidel RRC provides life skills and motivational interviewing classes, trauma-informed care and gender-responsive programming. Once released, program participants have access to community connections and can communicate with post-release case managers.