This paper is a study of the effectiveness of a community-based correctional program. The researchers opined that a “relationship exists between the program integrity of the Correctional Program Assessment Inventory (CPAI) and its effectiveness” (Lowenkamp, Latessa & Smith, 2006). To test this hypothesis, the researchers conducted interviews, survey and documentary analyses. “Descriptive statistics” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006) was used to compare the offenders’ “demographic characteristics” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006) and to calculate “the treatment effect sizes and weights” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006). The results revealed that on the treatment effects in which all program participants were considered, “most programs are not associated with very positive results” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006); whereas, when only the successful program participants were considered, “the programs are associated with a reduction in recidivism” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006). On the “correlations between the CPAI and treatment effectiveness” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006), the results showed that “the total CPAI score significantly correlates with all three outcome measures” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006). Finally, on determining how the programs can be categorized meaningfully by their CPAI scores, the results revealed that “majority of the programs fell into the unsatisfactory category” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006). In general, the study “indicated that there is a fairly strong correlation between program integrity and reductions in recidivism” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006). Albeit the limitations of the study, the authors were able to justify their arguments as it proved to have significant “implications for correctional policy” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006). First, “program integrity matters and can be measured and then used to predict the effectiveness of a correctional program” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006). “Second, the factors measured to assess program integrity are malleable or dynamic” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006). Lastly, it “can help funding agencies determine programs that have substantial impacts on recidivism” (Lowenkamp et al., 2006).
References
Lowenkamp, C.T., Latessa, E.J., & Smith, P. (2006). Does Correctional Program Quality Really Matter? The Impact of Adhering to the Principles of Effective Intervention, Vol. 5, No. 3, 575-594.
