To read this content please select one of the options below:

Getting SMART, SMART Recovery© programs and reoffending

Chris Blatch (Offender Services and Programs Branch, Corrective Services New South Wales, NSW Department of Justice, Sydney, Australia)
Kevin O'Sullivan (School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia)
Jordan J Delaney (Actevate Pty. Ltd., Sydney, Australia)
Daniel Rathbone (School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia)

The Journal of Forensic Practice

ISSN: 2050-8794

Article publication date: 8 February 2016

989

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine reconviction outcomes for 2,882 male and female offenders with significant alcohol and other drug (AOD) criminogenic needs, serving custodial sentences in New South Wales, between 2007 and 2011, who participated in the Getting SMART and/or the SMART Recovery® programs.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental research design utilized data from 2,343 offenders attending Getting SMART; 233 attending SMART Recovery© and 306 attending both programs, compared to a propensity score-matched control group of 2,882 offenders. Cox and Poisson regression techniques determined survival times to first reconviction and rates of reconvictions, adjusting for time at risk.

Findings

Getting SMART participation was significantly associated with improved odds of time to first reconviction by 8 percent and to first violent reconviction by 13 percent, compared to controls. Participants attending both programs (Getting SMART and SMART Recovery©), had significantly lower reconviction rate ratios for both general (21 percent) and violent (42 percent) crime, relative to controls. Getting SMART attendance was associated with significant reductions in reconviction rates of 19 percent, and the reduction for SMART Recovery© attendance (alone) was 15 percent, the latter figure being non-significant. In all, 20 hours in either SMART program (ten sessions) was required to detect a significant therapeutic effect.

Practical implications

Criminal justice jurisdictions could implement this two SMART program intervention model, knowing a therapeutic effect is more likely if Getting SMART (12 sessions of cognitive-restructuring and motivation) is followed by SMART Recovery© for ongoing AOD therapeutic maintenance and behavioral change consolidation. SMART Recovery©, a not-for-profit proprietary program, is widely available internationally.

Originality/value

Getting SMART and SMART Recovery© have not previously been rigorously evaluated. This innovative two-program model contributes to best practice for treating higher risk offenders with AOD needs, suggesting achievable reductions in both violent and general reoffending.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Research for this paper was undertaken by officers of Corrective Services NSW using internal funding and resources. Data for the study came from the standing collections of Corrective Services New South Wales and the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research.

Analysis and interpretation of data were undertaken by Corrective Services NSW with assistance from interns of the University of NSW’s Forensic Psychology Master’s program.

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Citation

Blatch, C., O'Sullivan, K., Delaney, J.J. and Rathbone, D. (2016), "Getting SMART, SMART Recovery© programs and reoffending", The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 3-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-02-2015-0018

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles