Predictors of Retention and Recidivism of Justice-Involved Women in a Community-Based Gender-Responsive CBT Program

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate pretreatment differences between program completers and noncompleters, as well as those who recidivated and those who did not, among a sample of 112 justice-involved women referred to a gender-responsive cognitive-behavioral program as part of supervision recommendations. Risk scores, adverse childhood experiences, emotion dysregulation, self-control, and various demographic variables were examined as predictors of program completion and 1-year recidivism. Results of logistic regression indicated that higher risk scores significantly predicted program noncompletion and 1-year recidivism, and noncompleters were 6 times more likely to recidivate than completers. These findings reveal characteristics of women as they relate to the likelihood of completing criminal justice treatment programs, and indicate a greater need for intensive support among high-risk women.