Residential Drug Treatment for High-Risk Probationers: Evaluating the Link Between Program Integrity and Recidivism

Prior research demonstrates the importance of ensuring that correctional programs are administered to high-risk clients, using a cognitive behavioral approach, which is responsive to the personal characteristics of the clients. The present study, which focused on a residential drug treatment program that served high-risk adult probationers, examined the link between program integrity and recidivism outcomes. Using a quasi-evaluation research design, this study matched probationers who completed a residential drug treatment program rated as “highly effective” by the Correctional Program Checklist to a comparison group who did not receive this treatment.