Cognitive behavior classes have been touted by corrections leaders as being the most effective programming for changing offender behavior and maintaining a crime-free life after release. Recidivism can be reduced by up to 30 percent, say experts in the field. Now, a new kid on the block has been tested by several corrections agencies with positive results -- it's called Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT).

MRT builds on some of the ideas promoted in cognitive behavior courses, such as changing inmates' ways of thinking to be more pro-social, and it combines well with other life skills programming like anger management and job placement.

One difference between MRT and traditional cognitive behavior programs is that MRT programs constantly work on raising the moral reasoning level of inmates through exercises with groups of offenders -- some of whom are at different stages in the program.

'We're looking at true insight and how people think about themselves,' said Ken Robinson, a creator of MRT and president of Correctional Counseling Inc., which trains corrections staff on the principles of the program. 'Our goal is to raise the decision-making to where people acknowledge that there are consequences when you don't follow the rules.'

In the scheme of programs, the differences between MRT and other cognitive behavior classes lie primarily in how the framework and context for moral reasoning is built for offenders.

The Process

MRT focuses on seven basic treatment issues: confrontation of beliefs, attitudes and behaviors; assessment of current relationships; reinforcement of positive behavior and habits; positive identity formation; enhancement of self-concept; decrease in hedonism (pleasure vs. pain) and development of frustration tolerance; and development of higher stages of moral reasoning. 

'They first identify that they are responsible for their behavior. We move them through to a higher level where they say, 'I can't do thins because it's the wrong thing to do. The process involves group interaction where others will challenge them from their own experience. A lot of them try to blame it on the system, but they have to identify what they are doing to shape their lives,' said Carol Eagle, an MRT and Life Skills Instructor for the Delaware Department of Corrections.

Offenders who participate in MRT are not singled out according to risk level. There are certain stages of the program, however, where success can be predicted. Robinson said offenders have a higher program completion rate if they stay in the program past the third stage of MRT, which is where offenders face the importance of accepting rules in the world. 

Throughout the stages, the facilitators for the program reinforce moral reasoning through hypothetical situations and have the offenders analyze their answers. 'We empower the group process. Participants say, 'I used to be like that?' It builds on the positive aspects of the therapeutic community,' Robinson said. 'We talk to them about how they ended up where they are and about the decisions they made along the way.'

One exercise from the MRT workbook, which offenders use during the program, asks the group to identify the five worst experiences in their lives and consider what made each event good or bad. Each student in the class shares his or her answers with the rest of the class. Another example of a situational exercise used by instructors at the Delaware Department of Corrections asks the group to determine which five people from a group of 10 they would save on a life raft before a killer typhoon strikes an island. The group includes a minister, doctor, mechanic, ocean scientist, journalist, teacher and famous movie start. The teacher tied the answers to real life -- such as whether or not to cut an old friend 'loose' because he is involved in criminal activity.

The approach is working in the jurisdictions that have tried it. MRT was first used by a correctional facility in Shelby County, Tenn. in 1988 and, since then, it has been used by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and by Delaware DOC. Research of recidivism rates, which Robinson encourages as essential to proving effectiveness, has shown that offenders who participated in the programs are returning to prison and jail less frequently.

'Our data reduces 20 to 30 percent the return rates. I'm not saying this is the silver bullet. Most programs address only one or two areas of the problems. No one is putting the whole puzzle together,' Robinson said.

If anyone is trying to combine the multiple pieces of the offender cognitive puzzle, it is Delaware.

Delaware DOC Life Skills

The Delaware DOC offers a four-month Life Skills program twice a year for up to 150 minimum and medium-security inmates. The program, which was initially funded by a three-year U.S. Department of Education grant, meets three hours each weekday. MRT is the core of the program. 

The teachers integrate academic classes and life skills with MRT. For example, a lesson about credit and investment might produce an inmate who says he can beat the system by not paying his credit card balance. But when moral reasoning is applied, the student may reconsider and ask himself what is the right thing to do.

Eagle said that the moral reasoning skills are also emphasized regarding job placement. 'The way we combine it is we have speakers come in and talk about training and jobs, even child support. They may think no one cares but this lets them know there are people who do, even if they are ex-offenders. It makes their goals reality based,' she said.

According to Robinson, this combined approach has shown reward to the Delaware agency. 'In the Delaware study, they found the inmates were more successful in work release. The more comprehensive a program it is, with anger management and education, the greater likelihood of success. It's more pieces of the puzzle,' he said.

Even if the program is provided alone and with inmates who are not eligible for work release, it has shown promise. Robinson said a National Institute of Justice study of the Oklahoma DOC's use of MRT showed that it created a safer environment. 'Wardens get interested in that,' he said.

One aspect of MRT that Eagle says is important for corrections administrators to understand is the intensity of MRT requires the right kind of instructor. 

One thing that is under-evaluated is the teachers' commitment and ability to motivate. The program is very stressful because you deal with a lot of emotional issues. It's also very creative and it's always challenging. You have to have the energy to keep up with it,' said Eagle.

Eagle said the MRT training for staff is also important because it brings each instructor or facilitator through the MRT process. 'Every time a student complains, I say I had to do this too,' Eagle said.

Resources

To read the NIJ/NIC/OCE Program Focus on the Delaware DOC Life Skills Program, visit the National Criminal Justice reference Services website at www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles/169589.txt

For more information about MRT or other cognitive behavior approaches contact:

The Delaware Life Skills Program at (302) 475-1496. Correctional Counseling, Inc. at (901) 360-1564 or visit the website at www.ccimrt.com

The Office of Correctional Education at (202) 205-5621 or visit the website at www.ed/gov/offices/OVAE/OCE

The Office of Correctional Job Training and Placement at (800) 995-6423, ext. 147 The Correctional Education Association at (301) 918-1915 or visit the website at www.cea.org

The NIC Academy also has several video-based training sessions on cognitive behavior approaches. For information, contact Ed Wolahan at (800) 995-6429, ext. 131 or visit the NIC website at www.nicic.org