BY ELIZABETH ZEPPERNICK, M.ED., BCBA, LBA

Recidivism, or the act of a convicted criminal reoffending, is a huge concern in our country.  Individuals released from detention are at risk of reoffending partly due to deficits in education, vocational experience, and important job-related social skills.  While national statistics on juvenile recidivism are not readily available, it is estimated that adult recidivism is as high as 83% on the national level (Alper et al., 2018).  The effect of this on the individual, their family, and our society is staggering.  

In an effort to look at effective measures to train detainees for their reintroduction to society, Edgemon et al. (2020) conducted a study on adolescent males housed in a secure residential treatment facility.  They studied seven young men between the age of 16 and 20 years old.  The young men had been placed in a therapeutic setting to address problem behaviors which included yelling at staff and peers, cursing, noncompliance, self-injury, inappropriate sexual behavior, and social skills deficits.  

All of the young men expressed an interest in obtaining education or employment upon release from detention.  The goal of the study was to teach interview skills which could lead to either an educational or employment opportunity.  The target skills included teaching appropriate answers to questions, appropriate questions directed toward the interviewer and appropriate posture.  They also sought to increase appropriate smiling and reduce inappropriate fidgeting.  Before beginning their training program, the researchers tested to find low to extremely low-level skills in these areas for the participants.  

Using a strategy used by behavior analysts called Behavioral Skills Training (BST) the therapists followed the steps below: 

1. Instruct- Describe both appropriate and inappropriate responses.

2. Model- Model both appropriate and inappropriate postures and responses.

3. Role Play- Conduct mock interviews.

4. Feedback- Give the participants feedback on the mock interview.  

Four of the seven participants mastered the skills taught with the BST model described above, while the other three participants mastered the skills with the BST model plus a second, more targeted tier of support.  The additional support for the three included providing them with laminated cards ‘cheat sheets’ outlining the appropriate responses and then eventually removing the prompt once they demonstrated they had mastered them.

By increasing their interview skills, the participants have a possible increased likelihood of obtaining employment to access earnings and health benefits.  In addition, employment can lead to positive relationships in the community. 

Given there is a strong relationship between recidivism and a lack of employment or education for those who are released from detention facilities, it is critical that we consider effective training using the strategies of Applied Behavior Analysis.  One of these tools at our disposal is the model of Behavioral Skills Training which proved successful in the study described herein.  

SOURCES:

Alber, M., Durose, M. R., & Markman, J. (2018). Special report: 2018 update on prisoner recidivism: A 9-year follow-up period (2004-2014).  U.S. Department of Justice.  Retrieved from https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/18upr9yfup0514.pdf

Edgemon, A.K., Rapp, J.T., Brogan, K.M., Richling, S.M., Hamrick, S.A., Peters, R.J. & O’Rourke, S.A. (2020). Behavioral skills training to increase interview skills of adolescent males in a juvenile residential treatment facility. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Advance online publication.  Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jaba.707#reference

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