The Georgia Cognitive Skills Experiment

Effects of the Georgia Cognitive Skills Program, a replication of Ross and Fabiano’s Reasoning and Rehabilitation, were examined for parolees randomly assigned to treatment and comparison groups and survival analysis found slightly lower recidivism rates for experimental participants than comparisons.

Abstract

Effects of the Georgia Cognitive Skills Program, a replication of Ross and Fabiano’s Reasoning and Rehabilitation, were examined for 468 parolees randomly assigned to treatment and comparison groups between May 1997 and July 1998. The evaluation tested the effects on arrests/revocations, technical violations, and employment at 9 months and returns to prison at 18 to 30 months. Survival analysis found slightly lower (statistically insignificant) recidivism rates for experimental participants than comparisons. No significant differences were found between experimental and comparison participants on technical violations and employment. Statistically controlling for offender risk factors, program completers had significantly fewer rearrests/revocations and returns to prison and more favorable employment outcomes than comparisons and dropouts. Results were similar for low-risk and medium/high-risk parolees.