AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST OF CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY THERAPY FOR JAIL INMATES

A treatment group and a nontreatment (control) group were comprised of 145 jail inmates who were screened for chemical dependency and, who w ere assigned randomly to the two groups. Treatment invoiced 72 hours o f group therapy bared on Glasser's (1985) ''Reality Therapy.'' Postrel ease criminal behavior was evaluated for a period of 2 years after tre atment. The analysis of recidivism using the National Crime Informatio n Center Interstate Identification Index-III indicated no significant difference in recidivism between treatment and nontreatment groups. Ch aracteristics of successful chemical dependency treatment are discusse d.