Corrections Community

Hi Everyone, We were wondering if anyone has created or has pre & post tests for the Thinking for a Change program. Thanks!

I don't currently have a Pre and Post Test for Thinking for Change. I would be greatly interested in having them. I do have a quiz on the Social Skills prior to going into Problem Solving. The quiz consists of randomly choosing three social skills, then have residents recite the steps of two of the skills word for word, and the third skill they have to role play. It gives the participant great feedback concerning their memory and ability to use the skill. It also provides me, as the instructor, feedback. Raymond Cruthis BA, LCDC Senior Counselor Central Texas Treatment Center Granger Texas

We are using the Criminal Thinking Scale developed by Texas Christian University as a measure for referral as well as a post measure of change. The scale can be downloaded without charge from TCU's Texas Institute of Behavioral Science at http://www.ibr.tcu.edu/ .

Thank you for the information regarding the Criminal Thinking Scale. We have also been looking for a tool to use as a pre and post test for T4C. I am curious- have you seen a noticeable difference in pre and post test scores when using this instrument? Thanks so much! Valerie Meade

Valerie, Yes the CTS is a good measure of the effectiveness of the program. We actually use the CTS as the referral device. If the CTS indicate criminal thinking the referral may be made. That first scale serves as the pre-test. In our first pilot we post-tested the graduates with the CTS six months from completion of the program and the change was dramatic with each of the graduates. We have built an Excel document that automatically scores the scale and presents a graphic representation of the level of criminal thinking in each of the six areas measured. The six areas are Entitlement, Justification, Power Orientation, Cold Heartedness, Criminal rationalization and Personal Irresponsibility.

Terry- Thank you so much for getting back to me. I am very interested in hearing more about this. Would you be willing to email me at valerie.meade@jocogov.org so that we can talk more? Thanks! Valerie