What Works in Corrections examines the impact of correctional interventions, management policies, treatment
and rehabilitation programs on the recidivism of offenders and delinquents. The book reviews different strategies
for reducing recidivism and describes how the evidence for effectiveness is assessed. Thousands of studies were
examined in order to identify those of sufficient scientific rigor to enable conclusions to be drawn about the
impact of various interventions, policies and programs on recidivism. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were
performed to further examine these results. This book assesses the relative effectiveness of rehabilitation programs
(e.g., education, life skills, employment, cognitive behavioral), treatment for different types of offenders (e.g.
sex offenders, batterers, juveniles), management and treatment of drug-involved offenders (e.g., drug courts, therapeutic
communities, outpatient drug treatment) and punishment, control and surveillance interventions (boot camps, intensive
supervision, electronic monitoring). Through her extensive research, MacKenzie illustrates which of these programs
are most effective and why.
"In an area that often embraces ideology and custom, Doris MacKenzie shows the wisdom of an evidence-based
corrections. Through a definitive yet accessible analysis of the lengthy roster of existing offender interventions,
she teaches us what programs do and do not hold promise for reducing criminal activity. Indeed, if the sage advice
between its covers is followed, this volume offers the important opportunity to avoid harmful treatments and to
develop interventions that enhance both the lives of offenders and the public's safety. Simply put, What Works
in Corrections is a must read for any serious student of the correctional enterprise." -Francis T. Cullen,
University of Cincinnati
"Anyone seeking to understand what works in contemporary corrections policy will welcome this scholarly, wide-ranging
book and its evidenced-based perspective. I highly recommend it to policymakers, practitioners and academics. The
data presented should help us target our scarce resources to those programs most likely to succeed." -Joan
Petersilia, Stanford Law School
Table of Contents
Part I. Strategies for Reducing Crime:
1. Strategies for reducing recidivism
2. Assessing the evidence
3. Incapacitation
4. Perspectives on rehabilitation
Part II. The Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Programs:
5. Academic education and life skills training
6. Vocational education, correctional industries and employment programs
7. Cognitive behavioral therapy programs
Part III. Targeting Specific Types of Offenders:
8. Sex offender treatment
9. Juveniles
10. Domestic violence
Part IV. Management and Treatment of Substance Abusers:
11. Drug courts
12. Outpatient and incarceration-based drug treatment
Part V. Control, Discipline and Punishment:
13. Correctional boot camps
14. Intensive supervision and electronic monitoring
