Mixed Method Evaulation of Jockey Club Project ReBond (ReBond)

'Through the Gate' Desistance-Based Social Work Intervention for Offenders Serving First or Second Prison Sentence in Hong Kong - Jockey Club Project ReBond: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Randomised Control Trial

Overall, the investigators hypothesize that participants assigned to the intervention group (Project ReBond) will demonstrate significantly greater improvements across all outcomes compared to the control group. Specifically, the investigators expect positive intervention effects on desistance and TPB outcomes to become evident as participants transition back into the community (i.e., across the at 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release assessment waves), while workshop-specific outcomes will be evident at the end of the workshop.

Overall Design The current study employs a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) utilizing a mixed design. The between-subjects factor is the treatment condition (Project ReBond Intervention plus TAU versus TAU Control), and the within-subjects factor is time, with repeated measures assessed across multiple time points over a 13-month tracking period.

Intervention Group (Project ReBond + TAU)

Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive the multifaceted Project ReBond services alongside standard care (TAU) for up to two years, beginning during their incarceration and continuing post-release. It should be noted that the 13-month research tracking period is shorter than the full two-year service duration; this truncated follow-up is necessary due to anticipated challenges in recruiting the predefined sample size before the project's overall deadline. The TAU is provided by the collaborating non-governmental organization (NGO), SideBySide. The Project ReBond intervention consists of the following specific components:

• Pre-Release (During Incarceration): Each participant will receive a 6-session pro-social habit workshop and career-life counselling as part of their pre-release preparation. Those requiring employment assistance will be provided with job interview opportunities prior to their release.

• Post-Release: Based on their personal interests and the recommendations of their caseworker, participants can choose to engage in the following services:

  i) Subsidies for professional grooming and image building; ii) Peer mentorship provided by successful desisters; iii) Financial literacy training and counselling; iv) Ongoing career-life counselling; v) Routine workshops designed to cultivate and maintain pro-social hobbies; vi) Subsidies for further education or occupational training; vii) Family-based counselling involving the participant and their significant other(s); and viii) Volunteering and community outreach, sharing opportunities.

TAU Control Group Participants in the control group will receive standard care (TAU) while incarcerated and remain free to utilize any existing social services post-release.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Recidivism
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Desistance-based Social Work; Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Detailed Description

Pre-Release Workshop Outcomes

In terms of workshop-specific outcomes, compared to the control group, participants in the intervention group will demonstrate at post-test:

• H6 (Workshop Effects):

• H6a (Art Workshop): Significantly higher emotional competence.
• H6b (Sports Workshop): Significantly higher resilience.
• H6c (Tech Workshop): Significantly higher AI literacy.
• H6d (Tech Workshop): Significantly higher problem-solving confidence.

Exploratory Outcomes

Compared to the TAU control group, across post-release follow-ups, participants in the intervention group will demonstrate:

• H7: Significantly higher levels of well-being.
• H8: Significantly higher levels of thriving.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 300
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Sunny Chow, BSocSc; Phone Number: 85295565912; Email: suunyccc@hku.hk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Kylie Lui, P.h.D. (Soci); Phone Number: 8523910 2115; Email: kcylui@hku.hk

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong Island
    • Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, 000
      • Recruiting
      • The University of Hong Kong
      • Contact: Sunny Chow, BSocSc; Phone Number: 85295565912; Email: suunyccc@hku.hk
      • Contact: Kylie Lui, PhD (Soci); Phone Number: 8523910 2115; Email: kcylui@hku.hk
      • Principal Investigator: Paul Wong, D.Psyc.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Hong Kong residents;
• Aged 18 years or above and capable of providing informed consent
• Serving a maximum of two sentences (including the current one) across any level or type of correctional facility
• The current sentence lasts between 3 and 12 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Physical conditions that preclude participation in at least 80% (six or seven sessions) of the Stage 1 in-prison workshops
• Psychological conditions (e.g. bipolar disorder or schizophrenia) that preclude participation in at least 80% (six or seven sessions) of the Stage 1 in-prison workshops
• Medical appointments that preclude participation in at least 80% (six or seven sessions) of the Stage 1 in-prison workshops
• Inadequate Cantonese or English proficiency that prevent the individual from providing informed consent and participating in the Stage 1 group workshops
• Cognitive impairments that prevent the individual from providing informed consent and participating in the Stage 1 group workshops
• A history or high risk of inflicting physical harm on other participants, clinicians, or CSD staff

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: ReBond (Desistance-based social work) +Treatment as Usual; Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive the multifaceted Project ReBond services alongside standard care (TAU) for up to two years, beginning during their incarceration and continuing post-release. It should be noted that the 13-month research tracking period is shorter than the full two-year service duration; this truncated follow-up is necessary due to anticipated challenges in recruiting the predefined sample size before the project's overall deadline. The TAU is provided by the collaborating non-governmental organization (NGO), SideBySide.	Other: Desistance-based Social Work; The Project ReBond intervention consists of the following specific components: Pre-Release (During Incarceration): Each participant will receive a 6-session pro-social habit workshop and career-life counselling as part of their pre-release preparation. Those requiring employment assistance will be provided with job interview opportunities prior to their release.; Post-Release: Based on their personal interests and the recommendations of their caseworker, participants can choose to engage in the following services:i) Subsidies for professional grooming and image building; ii) Peer mentorship provided by successful desisters; iii) Financial literacy training and counselling; iv) Ongoing career-life counselling; v) Routine workshops designed to cultivate and maintain pro-social hobbies; vi) Subsidies for further education or occupational training; vii) Family-based counselling involving the participant and their significant other(s); and viii) Volunteering and community outreach; Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU); Participants in the control group will receive standard care (TAU) while incarcerated and remain free to utilize any existing social services post-release. Specifically, control participants will be encouraged to engage with the standard services provided by SideBySide, whose standard care is informed by Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) principles.
Active Comparator: Treatment as Usual; Participants in the control group will receive standard care (TAU) while incarcerated and remain free to utilize any existing social services post-release. Specifically, control participants will be encouraged to engage with the standard services provided by SideBySide, whose standard care is informed by Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) principles.	Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU); Participants in the control group will receive standard care (TAU) while incarcerated and remain free to utilize any existing social services post-release. Specifically, control participants will be encouraged to engage with the standard services provided by SideBySide, whose standard care is informed by Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) principles.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Self-Reported Re-offending	To capture the two-dimensional nature of act desistance-specifically the frequency and severity of reoffending, this construct is measured using the self-constructed item: "I have committed fewer crimes than before." Both items are rated on a 6-point scale ranging from 0 (Not committing any crime) to 5 (Committing more/more serious crimes than before). Higher scores indicate worse reoffending outcomes.	1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Continuance Intention	To measure engagement with the ReBond project, participants will complete a self-constructed 4-item measure of continuance intention. Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 7 (Strongly agree). Higher scores indicate a stronger intention to continue. The internal consistency of this measure will be calculated and reported in the final analysis.	1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Social Integration Indicators (Education, Housing, Employment, Health)	To capture objective markers of social integration, the following self-constructed items are utilized: Education: Participants indicate whether they have received any education or training post-release (Yes/No). If responded "Yes," they specify the type.; Housing: Participants indicate whether they have a stable shelter for the next 12 months (Yes/No), followed by categorical questions regarding ownership and housing type.; Employment: Participants indicate their current employment status (Yes/No), where unpaid labor (e.g., caregiving) is classified as work. Data regarding occupation type and income level are also collected.; Health: Participants indicate whether they have been diagnosed with any new health conditions post-release (Yes/No). Subjective health is assessed using a single item: "On a scale from 0 to 10 (0 = worst, 10 = best), how would you rate your own health over the past month?"	1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Post-Release Living Inventory for Ex-Prisoners (PROLI-ex)	The PROLI-ex measures post-release daily routines and behaviors linked to health and desistance outcomes, which predict self-reported reoffending. Upon request, the original authors provided an unpublished, localized short Chinese version of the scale. This 17-item scale comprises four subscales: institutional routine, active living, online leisure, and support seeking (α=0.71,0.69,0.81,0.69). Participants indicate how regularly they performed specific routines over the past two weeks on an 11-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not regular at all) to 10 (Very regular). Scores are calculated by averaging the items within each subscale, as well as averaging all items for a total score.	1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Identification with Desistance	Pro-social identity, conceptualized as identity desistance, is measured using the 5-item Identification with Desistance scale, which assesses an individual's subjective law-abiding identity. Participants rate their responses on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Always). The final score is calculated by summing the items, with higher scores indicating a stronger pro-social identity. The reported internal consistency for this scale is α=0.62.	Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Reintegration Needs	Relational desistance is operationalized as the level of concern regarding various reentry barriers across several domains: basic needs, work and career, health and well-being, digital literacy, and interpersonal relationships. Adapted from the Barriers to Reentry Success Inventory and integrated with clinical insights, this scale asks participants to rate their concerns on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (No Concern) to 4 (Great Concern), with an additional "Not Applicable" (N/A) option. Scores are calculated by summing the items for each subscale and for the total score, with higher scores indicating a higher need for reintegration support. Internal consistency will be calculated and reported after data collection.	Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ)	Stigma consciousness refers to the anticipated stigma an individual expects to experience. A modified 10-item Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire is used, with the subject adapted to "ex-offenders." Participants rate items on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 7 (Strongly agree). Higher scores indicate higher anticipated stigma. Internal consistency will be calculated and reported after data collection.	1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)	The MSPSS measures an individual's perception of social support across three sources: significant others, family, and friends. This 12-item questionnaire utilizes a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 7 (Strongly agree), with higher scores indicating higher perceived social support. Previous research indicates good to excellent reliability for the subscales: significant other (α=0.91), family (α=0.87), and friends (α=0.85).	1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Agency for Desistance (ADQ)	The ADQ assesses offenders' intentions to change and their perceived ability to stay crime-free. The original 10-item scale has acceptable internal consistency (α=0.77). Following communication with the original authors, 6 additional items were added to more accurately measure the construct. The internal consistency of the final 16-item scale will be calculated and reported in the final analysis.	Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Factors of Motivation for Desistance (FoM-D)	The FoM-D assesses motivational factors (attitude, perceived social norm, self-efficacy, and positive affect) expected to predict the ADQ. The first three constructs are measured using a modified scale. Participants rate their responses on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Always), some items with an added "Not Applicable" option. Scores are summed, with higher scores indicating stronger motivation. Reported internal consistencies for these subscales are α=0.62, α=0.65, and α=0.61. An option 'Not Applicable' is added so some questions where it asks the frequency of an experience. Since an option that is close to 'never' is not provided in the original scale. A 'Not Applicable' is added to those options with instructions to allow respondents to answer that the particular question does not apply to them.	1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Positive Affect	Measured using the Positive Feelings subscale of the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT). This is a 3-item subscale rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Scores are summed. While the full CIT has shown strong reliability (α=0.77 to 0.96), internal consistency for this specific subscale alone is not previously available and will be calculated.	Intake assessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC) for Art Workshop	The PEC measures individual differences in the identification, understanding, expression, regulation, and use of emotions. To align with workshop objectives, only three subscales are used: 'Identification of own emotions,' 'Understanding of own emotions,' and 'Expression of own emotions.' Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Does not describe me at all) to 5 (Describes me very well). The full 50-item scale has excellent internal consistency (α=0.93); the reliability of the specific subscales used will be calculated.	Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) for Sports Workshop	The BRS measures the ability to bounce back or recover from stress. This 6-item scale utilizes a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Previous research demonstrates good to excellent reliability across samples (α=0.80 to 0.91).	Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
A.I. Literacy (AIL) for Tech Workshop	The AIL is a combined 12-item measure of subscales from ChatGPT literacy and AI self-efficacy scale. It sources 8 items from the intrinsic motivation and behavioral commitment subscale of the AILQ ( a = 0.88) and 4 items from the creative application subscale of the ChatGPT literacy scale (a = 0.79). Both scales use a 5-point Likert format ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree).	Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) for Tech Workshop	The PSI measures problem-solving confidence, approach-avoidance style, and personal control. To align with workshop objectives, only the problem-solving confidence subscale is used. Items are rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 6 (Strongly agree). The full inventory has excellent reliability (α=0.90), and the selected subscale is also highly reliable (α=0.85).	Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
Well-Being	General well-being is assessed using a 6-item scale recommended by the literature as an optimal short measure. Items are rated on a 10-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Not at all) to 10 (Completely). Internal consistency will be calculated and reported in the final analysis.	Intake assessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT)	The CIT measures a broad range of psychological well-being constructs, representing a holistic view of positive functioning. This 54-item scale covers 18 domains, including support, learning, mastery experience, and autonomy. Participants rate items on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Across five distinct samples in previous research, the CIT demonstrated acceptable to excellent internal consistency (α=0.77 - 0.96).	1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
• Collaborators: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Paul Wong, D.Psyc., The University of Hong Kong

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Brasseur S, Gregoire J, Bourdu R, Mikolajczak M. The Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC): development and validation of a self-reported measure that fits dimensions of emotional competence theory. PLoS One. 2013 May 6;8(5):e62635. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062635. Print 2013.
• Pinel EC. Stigma consciousness: the psychological legacy of social stereotypes. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1999 Jan;76(1):114-28. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.76.1.114.
• Fung SF. Validity of the Brief Resilience Scale and Brief Resilient Coping Scale in a Chinese Sample. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb 16;17(4):1265. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17041265.
• Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2
• Su R, Tay L, Diener E. The development and validation of the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT) and the Brief Inventory of Thriving (BIT). Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2014 Nov;6(3):251-79. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12027. Epub 2014 Jun 12.
• Wittes J. Sample size calculations for randomized controlled trials. Epidemiol Rev. 2002;24(1):39-53. doi: 10.1093/epirev/24.1.39. No abstract available.
• VanderWeele TJ, Trudel-Fitzgerald C, Allin P, Farrelly C, Fletcher G, Frederick DE, Hall J, Helliwell JF, Kim ES, Lauinger WA, Lee MT, Lyubomirsky S, Margolis S, McNeely E, Messer N, Tay L, Viswanath V, Weziak-Bialowolska D, Kubzansky LD. Current recommendations on the selection of measures for well-being. Prev Med. 2020 Feb 1;133:106004. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106004. Online ahead of print.
• Team, R. C. (2025). R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. In https://www.R-project.org/
• Rocque, M. (2021). But what does it mean?: Defining, measuring, and analyzing desistance from crime in criminal justice. US Department of Justice
• Rizopoulos, D., Miranda-Afonso, P., & Papageorgiou, G. (2026). JMbayes2: Extended Joint Models for Longitudinal and Time-to-Event Data. In https://github.com/drizopoulos/jmbayes2
• Olver ME, Stockdale KC, Wormith JS. A meta-analysis of predictors of offender treatment attrition and its relationship to recidivism. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2011 Feb;79(1):6-21. doi: 10.1037/a0022200.
• Ng, D. T. K., Wu, W., Leung, J. K. L., Chiu, T. K. F., & Chu, S. K. W. (2024). Design and validation of the AI literacy questionnaire: The affective, behavioural, cognitive and ethical approach. British Journal of Educational Technology, 55(3), 1082-1104. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13411
• Miller, H. A. (2018). The Inventory of Offender Risk, Needs, and Strengths (IORNS). In Handbook of Recidivism Risk/Needs Assessment Tools (pp. 101-116). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119184256.ch5
• Lloyd, C. D., & Serin, R. C. (2012). Agency and outcome expectancies for crime desistance: measuring offenders' personal beliefs about change†. Psychology, Crime & Law, 18(6), 543-565. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2010.511221
• Liptak, J. J. (n.d.). Barriers to Reentry Success Inventory Administrator's Guide.
• Lee, S., & Park, G. (2024). Development and validation of ChatGPT literacy scale. Current Psychology, 43(21), 18992-19004. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05723-0
• Kuznetsova, A., Brockhoff, P. B., & Christensen, R. H. B. (2017). lmerTest Package: Tests in Linear Mixed Effects Models. Journal of Statistical Software, 82(13), 1 - 26. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v082.i13
• Heppner, P. P., & Petersen, C. H. (1982). The development and implications of a personal problem-solving inventory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 29(1), 66-75. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.29.1.66
• Giordano, P. C., Cernkovich, S. A., & Rudolph, J. L. (2002). Gender, Crime, and Desistance: Toward a Theory of Cognitive Transformation. American Journal of Sociology, 107(4), 990-1064. https://doi.org/10.1086/343191
• Giordano, P. C. (2016). Mechanisms underlying the desistance process: reflections on 'A theory of cognitive transformation'. In Global perspectives on desistance (pp. 27-43). Routledge.
• Cheung CK, Li JC, Lee TY. Social Work Contribution to Desistance Among At-Risk Youth. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2018 Apr;62(5):1216-1240. doi: 10.1177/0306624X16672865. Epub 2016 Oct 7.
• Bates, D., Mächler, M., Bolker, B., & Walker, S. (2015). Fitting Linear Mixed-Effects Models Using lme4. Journal of Statistical Software, 67(1), 1 - 48. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v067.i01

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 16, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: RCT; Social Work; Theory of Planned Behaviour; Desistance
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Criminal Behavior; Recidivism; Therapeutics
• Other Study ID Numbers: EA250537

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared because the original Informed Consent Form signed by the participants did not include permission to share individual-level data with external researchers or third parties. Furthermore, the trial involves highly sensitive information (i.e., self-reported reoffending) where the risk of a potential data breach outweighs the benefits of sharing, as disclosure could introduce legal risks for both the participants and the researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No