The reasoning and rehabilitation program in the German prison system-Changes in attitudes and behavior during the course of treatment

The "reasoning and rehabilitation" program (R&R) for offender treatment has been successfully evaluated around the world. Nevertheless, studies on treatment effectiveness in the German prison system are still missing. Therefore, the effectiveness of the R&R was investigated in six prisons using pre-, post-, and follow-up measurements in a sample of 134 male inmates aged 17-58 years. Standardized self-report measures (e.g., aggression, impulsivity, moral evaluations and empathy) as well as official information on prison misconduct were collected. Results showed positive changes in risk and protective factors of delinquency during treatment, with effect sizes ranging from small to medium. The effects remained stable until the follow-up measurement. On the behavioral level, participants showed fewer violations of the rules during the course of treatment compared to a matched control group (n = 113). The results are discussed in terms of treatment practice.