An analysis of an intensive supervision program for sex offenders using propensity scores

The last several decades have seen an expansion of intensive supervision to address sexual violence. The current study examines a population of 885 sex offenders supervised by a single Midwestern Department of Corrections in the United States and assigned to intensive supervision, residential treatment, or standard probation. This study used propensity analysis to control for nonrandom assignment of offenders to the different intervention conditions. When controlling for propensity scores, overall, analyses revealed no significant differences in recidivism rates or severity of recidivated offenses between intervention groups. However, offenders in residential treatment were more likely to revocate and to commit more revocations than intensive supervision or standard probation offenders, even after controlling for propensity score. Discussion focuses on the role of intervention components as a possible explanation for lack of intervention differences, as well as future implications.