Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and Misconduct Behind Bars: A Randomized Control Trial of Cognitive Behavioral Interventions Core Curriculum (CBI-CC), Delaware, 2019-2023

Institutional misconduct, especially violent misconduct, poses a problem for all prisons. To address the misconduct concern, this study tested whether an evidence-based, cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) program would reduce misconduct, including incidents of violent misconduct, and post-release arrests compared to non or less intensive CBT programming. The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) implemented CBT-based programs in their institutions, which included the Cognitive Behavioral Interventions - Core Curriculum (CBI-CC) developed at the University of Cincinnati. The three programs addressed in this study include Thinking Things Through (TTT), Road to Recovery (R2R), and Reflections. TTT consisted of the instruments and materials of the CBI-CC, whereas R2R and Reflections focused on CBT skills and techniques. The Center for Drug and Health Studies (CDHS) in collaboration with DOC evaluated the impact of the program using administrative records and surveys with program participants.
Results indicated that all treatment groups performed better than the control group in terms of rearrest and incarceration. The group who received the intensive CBT treatment performed significantly better than all other groups. Intensive CBT treatment was thus effective in reducing recidivism. In terms of CBI-CC programming, participants had the highest rates of misconduct but saw a significant decrease after completing programming. In addition, both R2R and TTT have the lowest rates of rearrest after completing treatment programming compared to all other groups. This can be credited to the length and intensity of programming, as well CBT implemented within the programs.