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Abstract: 

Cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) is among the most promising rehabilitative treatments for criminal offenders. Several reviews have shown it to have a very powerful effect on reducing recidivism and it has a well-established theoretical basis that explicitly targets criminal thinking as a contributing factor to deviant behaviors. It also works well in a formal therapy group or informal learning. It helps an offender on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis evaluate and change his or her thoughts and behaviors. Offenders need continued reminders that it is not what happens to them that is so important but how they process what happens in their own minds; their ultimate choices and behaviors make the difference. Corrections staff have used CBI to help offenders account for how they think and behave. When errant thoughts occur, the offenders have a way to be aware of their thoughts, categorize their thoughts, and change their thoughts if necessary. This takes much practice and is aided by reminders from staff. However, helping offenders learn to control their thinking takes a well-designed program that provides formal group work by a trained staff member as well as informal teaching with the help of support staff, who hold the offender accountable for their thinking throughout the day. Offenders need to learn to interrupt old destructive thoughts and replace them with new healthy ones.

Keywords: Curriculum choices; program integrity; anger management; social skills; cognitive skills training; relapse prevention

Affiliations:  1: Alvis House; 2: Alvis House.