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Abstract: 

The extant research on day reporting centers (DRCs) has been mixed in terms of recidivism reduction. A key variable in evaluating DRC effectiveness has been to ensure that the treatment group is composed of successful program completers, not unsuccessful completers or individuals simply enrolled in a DRC. The study uses data collected by the Illinois Department of Corrections to compare a sample of 285 successful program completers from six Illinois DRCs—a number representing 25% of the total DRC enrollments during the specified timeframe—to a group of 2,033 individuals on traditional supervision. Both groups were released during the same timeframe and followed for three years. Results indicate that the successful program completers were half as likely to recidivate during the three-year period. These findings contribute to the extant literature on DRC use as a viable “alternative to incarceration” method while keeping individuals in the community.

Keywords: Day reporting centers, DRC effectiveness, recidivism reduction, incarceration alternative, Illinois DOC

Affiliations:  1: GEO Group; 2: GEO Reentry Services; 3: GEO Continuum of Care.