Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) Versus Non-SSAS Recidivism Rates Among Nebraska Felony Drug Offenders

Completed

• Conditions: Alcohol-related Disorders; Substance-related Disorders

• Registration Number: NCT00690352
• Lead Sponsor: University of Nebraska

Brief Summary

This social science study hypothesizes that convicted felony drug offenders in Nebraska who participated in Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) as part of their probation or parole showed significantly better outcomes (specifically, less recidivism) at six months post-entrance to SSAS compared to those who did not participate in SSAS.

Detailed Description

Since March 2006, Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) has been available at five sites in Nebraska as an enhancement of probation and parole for felony drug offenders whose scores on initial screening instruments warrant such placement. SSAS enhancements to traditional probation and parole include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in groups; use of incentives; positive reinforcement; and motivational interviewing.

Records of probationers and parolees who participated in SSAS starting anytime between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007 were studied to assess recidivism rates. Recidivism for this study is defined as "an arrest and conviction on a new charge while on probation or parole."

The records of a matched control group of non-SSAS probationers and parolees who entered probation or parole during the same time period with similar drug felony offenses and similar screening scores were also studied. Control group was also matched, as much as possible, with similar age group, demographic data, rural/urban residence, and level of felony offense.

Investigators performed a statistical analysis to determine recidivism rates at six months post-entrance to SSAS (and for the control group, at six months post-entrance to probation or parole).

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2008-03-05
• Study First Submitted: 2008-05-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-05-30
• Study First Posted: 2008-06-04
• Primary Completion: 2008-07-06
• Study Completion: 2008-08-20
• Status Verified: 2023-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-09-21
• Last Update Posted: 2023-09-25

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 344

Inclusion Criteria

• convicted felony drug offender
• sentenced in Nebraska
• probationer or parolee
• entered probation or parole or SSAS between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007

Exclusion Criteria

• convicted felony drug offender sentenced in Nebraska starting probation or parole between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007 who does not match SSAS probationers/parolees in terms of age, demographics, urban v. rural residence, and/or class of felony drug offense.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Recidivism	6 months	Proportion of individuals who re-offend during the six months following sentencing

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Employed	6 months	Percentage of individuals employed during the six months following sentencing
Probation Violation	6 months	Percentage of individuals who violated probation during the six months following sentencing
Probation violation with incarceration	6 months	Percentage of individuals who violated probation and were incarcerated during the six months following sentencing
Positive drug screens	6 months	Percentage of individuals with positive drug screens during the six months following sentencing

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Nebraska Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Omaha, Nebraska, United States