Treatment Program Lowers RecidivismMarch 19, 2004
Research Summary
Results from a study of an Oklahoma Department of Corrections treatment program found lower recidivism among participants, and increased cost savings for the state, the Alva Review Courier reported March 16.The study, conducted by Oklahoma City University, found the following:
- 926 inmates participated in the program. 165 dropped out of the program prior to completion. 638 completed and reportedly are discharged from custody. 133 continue to be in the program.
- Of the 638 who completed the program and were discharged from custody, 74 were re-incarcerated on new criminal charges for an overall recidivism rate of 11.6 percent, which compares favorably to the overall Oklahoma Department of Corrections recidivism rate of 26 percent. The 2003 recidivism rate for those inmates who completed the program was 2.9%.
- Without the program, an additional 91 inmates would have been re-incarcerated.
- Program costs were approximately $1300.00 per inmate, or $1,155,000 for the four years of the program. The cost for those 91 people, who would have been potentially re-incarcerated without attending the treatment program, could have been at least $1,638,000, for a savings to the state of $483,000.
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