Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) Versus Non-SSAS Recidivism Rates Among Nebraska Felony Drug Offenders (SSAS)

Comparing Recidivism Rates of Felony Drug Offenders in Nebraska Who Were Sentenced to, and/or Participated in, Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) to Those Without SSAS

This social science study hypothesizes that convicted felony drug offenders in Nebraska who participated in Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) as part of their probation or parole showed significantly better outcomes (specifically, less recidivism) at six months post-entrance to SSAS compared to those who did not participate in SSAS.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Substance-related Disorders; Alcohol-related Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS)

Detailed Description

Since March 2006, Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision (SSAS) has been available at five sites in Nebraska as an enhancement of probation and parole for felony drug offenders whose scores on initial screening instruments warrant such placement. SSAS enhancements to traditional probation and parole include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in groups; use of incentives; positive reinforcement; and motivational interviewing.

Records of probationers and parolees who participated in SSAS starting anytime between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007 were studied to assess recidivism rates. Recidivism for this study is defined as "an arrest and conviction on a new charge while on probation or parole."

The records of a matched control group of non-SSAS probationers and parolees who entered probation or parole during the same time period with similar drug felony offenses and similar screening scores were also studied. Control group was also matched, as much as possible, with similar age group, demographic data, rural/urban residence, and level of felony offense.

Investigators performed a statistical analysis to determine recidivism rates at six months post-entrance to SSAS (and for the control group, at six months post-entrance to probation or parole).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 344

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nebraska
    • Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68198
      • University of Nebraska Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 17 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Probationers and parolees who participated in SSAS starting anytime between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007 at any of the five participating SSAS sites in Nebraska, plus matched sets of probationers and parolees who did not participated in SSAS at any of the probation/parole sites in the state of Nebraska.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• convicted felony drug offender
• sentenced in Nebraska
• probationer or parolee
• entered probation or parole or SSAS between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007

Exclusion Criteria:

• convicted felony drug offender sentenced in Nebraska starting probation or parole between March 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007 who does not match SSAS probationers/parolees in terms of age, demographics, urban v. rural residence, and/or class of felony drug offense.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Retrospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Recidivism	Proportion of individuals who re-offend during the six months following sentencing	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Probation Violation	Percentage of individuals who violated probation during the six months following sentencing	6 months
Probation violation with incarceration	Percentage of individuals who violated probation and were incarcerated during the six months following sentencing	6 months
Positive drug screens	Percentage of individuals with positive drug screens during the six months following sentencing	6 months
Employed	Percentage of individuals employed during the six months following sentencing	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Nebraska
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kathleen M Grant, MD, University of Nebraska

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 5, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 6, 2008
• Study Completion (Actual): August 20, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 6, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 30, 2008
• First Posted (Estimated): June 4, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 25, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 21, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: cognitive behavioral therapy; CBT; substance use disorder; Specialized Substance Abuse Supervision; SSAS; felony drug offender; probation; parole
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Alcohol-Related Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0066-08-FB