ENROLLMENT IN A DRUG-FREE DETENTION PROGRAM - THE PREDICTION OF SUCCESSFUL BEHAVIOR-CHANGE OF DRUG-USING INMATES

Factors predicting the behavior change of drug-using detainees were in vestigated in detainees in two penitentiaries in The Netherlands. Subj ects attended either a standard program or a Drug-Free Detention Progr am (DFDP) and were assessed at the beginning of detention, at release/ transfer, and at 2 years after the end of detention. Predictors of pos tprogram contact with treatment agencies and changes in criminal recid ivism, substance abuse, and psychosocial functioning were investigated using regression analysis. Detainees who started drug use early, with out previous DFDP detention, and who frequently expressed self-esteem and who had many family problems realized meetings with drug treatment agencies more often. Those with a legal source of income showed decre ases in addiction severity and in the number of days in which hard dru gs were used. Comparison of the normal program and the DFDP showed tha t only for the normal wing could changes in substance use and psychoso cial functioning be predicted. Results show the value of multiple-outc ome criteria in criminal recidivism research and call for more studies investigating change processes.