Collaborative Behavioral Management for Drug-Involved Parolees: Rationale and Design of the Step'n Out Study

• Published in: Journal of offender rehabilitation Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 290 - 318
• Main Authors: FRIEDMANN, PETER D., KATZ, ELIZABETH C., RHODES, ANNE G., TAXMAN, FAYE S., O'CONNELL, DANIEL J., FRISMAN, LINDA K., BURDON, WILLIAM M., FLETCHER, BENNETT W., LITT, MARK D., CLARKE, JENNIFER, MARTIN, STEVEN S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01-01-2008; Routledge; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Behavior Modification; Caseworkers; Collaboration; Community corrections; community reinforcement; Community Services; Connecticut; Contingency Management; Cooperation; Counseling Techniques; Counselors; Delaware; Drug Abuse; drug abusear; Drug Rehabilitation; graduated sanctions; Legal System; Management; Oregon; Parole; Parole & probation; Parole officers; Program Evaluation; Prosocial Behavior; Rehabilitation of criminals; Research Design; Rhode Island; Substance abuse treatment; Supervision; Therapists; Virginia; Oregon; Rhode Island; Delaware; Virginia; Connecticut
• ISSN: 1050-9674; 1540-8558
• DOI: 10.1080/10509670802134184

This article describes the rationale, study design, and implementation for the Step'n Out study of the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies. Step'n Out tests the relative effectiveness of collaborative behavioral management of drug-involved parolees. Collaborative behavioral management integrates the roles of parole officers and treatment counselors to provide role induction counseling, contract for pro-social behavior, and deliver contingent reinforcement of behaviors consistent with treatment objectives. The Step'n Out study will randomize 450 drug-involved parolees to collaborative behavioral management or usual parole. Follow-up at 3-and 9-months will assess primary outcomes of rearrest, crime and drug use. If collaborative behavioral management is effective, its wider adoption could improve the outcomes of community reentry of drug-involved ex-offenders.