In 2007, Texas was faced with building yet more prisons in the coming years to handle its burgeoning prison population. Rather than committing funds to put more residents behind bars, the state opted to support programs that would keep its citizens out of prison. Instead of adding 17,332 new prison beds at a cost of $2 billion, Texas spent $241 million to increase space in rehabilitation programs for those with criminal histories. The result, according to a new report by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, is that recidivism rates dropped considerably for those who completed the programs.
The TDCJ evaluated several programs aimed at reducing recidivism, and found that offenders released in 2007 who took part in the rehabilitation programs had considerably lower rates of recidivism. Reentry programs that were evaluated were both faith-based and secular, large and small. The programs focused on issues such as overcoming substance abuse, eliminating violent behavior, or preventing those accused of a sexual crime from committing another offense. All of the programs had the same goal: preventing participants from returning to old life styles, and hence, prison.
The vast majority of the programs were considered successful in reducing recidivism. One, with an incongruous name for an organization promoting rehabilitation, the Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Program, claimed a recidivism reduction of 14% for participants. Those who completed the In-Prison Therapeutic Program were found to have a lower recidivism rate up to three years after they were released. The same is true for the Sex Offender treatment Program. Since most formerly incarcerated persons return to prison within a three years, that time frame is considered a marker for success if an individual has not been re-incarcerated.
Most of those approved for parole must complete a six-month program aimed at reducing recidivism. Those who participate in these programs have a lower recidivism rate, according to Texas corrections officials. But the Texas Department of Criminal Justice offered no statistics on the recidivism rate of those who did not participate, or complete the programs, numbers some would like to see in order to make a more complete evaluation of the success of rehabilitation programs.
Source: Right on Crime May 16, 2011
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