Abstract
This paper extends previous research that performed a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of the Amity in-prison therapeutic community (TC) and Vista aftercare programs for criminal offenders in southern California. To assess the impact of treatment over time for this unique sample of criminal offenders, a 5-year follow-up CEA was performed to compare the cost of an offender's treatment - starting with the in-prison TC program and including any community-based treatment received post-parole - and the effectiveness of treatment in terms of days reincarcerated. The average cost of addiction treatment over the baseline and 5-year follow-up period was $7,041 for the Amity group and $1,731 for the control group. The additional investment of $5,311 in treatment yielded 81 fewer incarceration days (13%) among Amity participants relative to controls - a cost-effectiveness ratio of $65. When considering the average daily cost of incarceration in California ($72), these results suggest that offering treatment in prison and then directing offenders into community-based aftercare treatment is a cost-effective policy tool.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 659-679 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Justice Quarterly |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2004 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Law
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Cite this
Long-term cost effectiveness of addiction treatment for criminal offenders. / McCollister, Kathryn; French, Michael; Prendergast, Michael L.; Hall, Elizabeth; Sacks, Stan.
In: Justice Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 3, 01.12.2004, p. 659-679.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-term cost effectiveness of addiction treatment for criminal offenders
AU - McCollister, Kathryn
AU - French, Michael
AU - Prendergast, Michael L.
AU - Hall, Elizabeth
AU - Sacks, Stan
PY - 2004/12/1
Y1 - 2004/12/1
N2 - This paper extends previous research that performed a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of the Amity in-prison therapeutic community (TC) and Vista aftercare programs for criminal offenders in southern California. To assess the impact of treatment over time for this unique sample of criminal offenders, a 5-year follow-up CEA was performed to compare the cost of an offender's treatment - starting with the in-prison TC program and including any community-based treatment received post-parole - and the effectiveness of treatment in terms of days reincarcerated. The average cost of addiction treatment over the baseline and 5-year follow-up period was $7,041 for the Amity group and $1,731 for the control group. The additional investment of $5,311 in treatment yielded 81 fewer incarceration days (13%) among Amity participants relative to controls - a cost-effectiveness ratio of $65. When considering the average daily cost of incarceration in California ($72), these results suggest that offering treatment in prison and then directing offenders into community-based aftercare treatment is a cost-effective policy tool.
AB - This paper extends previous research that performed a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of the Amity in-prison therapeutic community (TC) and Vista aftercare programs for criminal offenders in southern California. To assess the impact of treatment over time for this unique sample of criminal offenders, a 5-year follow-up CEA was performed to compare the cost of an offender's treatment - starting with the in-prison TC program and including any community-based treatment received post-parole - and the effectiveness of treatment in terms of days reincarcerated. The average cost of addiction treatment over the baseline and 5-year follow-up period was $7,041 for the Amity group and $1,731 for the control group. The additional investment of $5,311 in treatment yielded 81 fewer incarceration days (13%) among Amity participants relative to controls - a cost-effectiveness ratio of $65. When considering the average daily cost of incarceration in California ($72), these results suggest that offering treatment in prison and then directing offenders into community-based aftercare treatment is a cost-effective policy tool.
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U2 - 10.1080/07418820400095941
DO - 10.1080/07418820400095941
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:28344457815
VL - 21
SP - 659
EP - 679
JO - Justice Quarterly
JF - Justice Quarterly
SN - 0741-8825
IS - 3
ER -