Exploration of Treatment Change in Social Problem-Solving, Emotional Regulation, Aggression and Violence Risk in Male Offenders With Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Offender rehabilitation programs aim to reduce re-offending by differentially addressing the unique characteristics of offender groups. The South Australian Violence Prevention Program-me intervention is delivered to male offenders with suspected cognitive impairments at high-risk of violent reoffending. In this study, change following participation in the intervention was assessed in offence-relevant domains of social problem-solving, emotional regulation, aggression and violence risk. Design: With-in subjects pre- to posttreatment change. Method: Nineteen VPP-me participants were assessed for change on measures of social problem-solving, emotional regulation, aggression and violence risk. Results revealed group-level significant change in aggression, violence risk and emotional dysregulation, but not in social problem-solving ability. A minority of participants experienced individual-level reliable change on these outcomes. Conclusion: VPP-me program participation may result in change for violence risk, aggression, emotional dysregulation and social problem-solving for some cognitively impaired male offenders.