An evaluation of a short-term drug treatment for jail inmates.

A total of 70 jail inmates who participated in an intensive, short-term drug treatment program were compared with a matched group of 70 jail inmates who did not participate in the program. Survival analysis was used to estimate the hazard of recidivism during 14 months following release from jail. The hazard ratio was significantly lower for the treatment than control group, and an analysis using propensity scores confirmed these results. Only 27% of the treatment participants were returned to jail or prison for more than 30 days, compared with 46% of the matched control group. According to qualitative responses from the participants, the program helped inmates recognize the consequences of their behavior and change their perspective. The results indicate that an intensive, short-term drug treatment program can be implemented within jails and might be a useful tool to help offenders prepare for reentry and reduce their risk of recidivism.