Offender treatment attrition and its relationship with risk, responsivity, and recidivism

This investigation examined factors contributing to attrition from correctional treatment and the implication that treatment noncompletion may have for issues concerning risk, recidivism, and responsivity. Participants included 93 violent offenders who had been referred to an intensive treatment program in a maximum security correctional facility. Descriptive information, program participation, and recidivism data were gathered from comprehensive institutional and police records. Treatment noncompleters had less formal education and less employment history in the community. They were more likely to be of aboriginal ancestry and classified to maximum security, scored more poorly on several treatment process variables, and were higher risk offenders. Subsequent analyses demonstrated that very high-risk aboriginal offenders were particularly vulnerable to dropping out of treatment (80%). The findings are discussed with respect to the principles of risk and responsivity.