Contemporary study Crim

• What is the aim of Howells et al. (2005) study?

  To see if offender characteristics predict improvement
• What does the study compare regarding anger management?

  Effectiveness of AMP versus treatment
• How many male offenders participated in the study?

  418 male offenders
• What was the mean age of the offenders in the study?

  28.8 years
• What percentage of offenders came from prison-based AMP?

  86%
• What was the follow-up duration for the assessments?

  Two and six months
• What was the attrition rate at the follow-up sessions?

  Not a large attrition rate
• How many sessions did offenders attend in the AMP?

  10 sessions
• How long did each session last?

  2 hours
• What skills did offenders identify during the sessions?

  Provocations, relaxation, cognitive restructuring
• What type of measures did offenders complete?

  International self-report measures
• How were questionnaires administered for those with literacy issues?

  Verbally administered
• What did staff complete for each offender?

  Observational staff rating scale
• What was the result of the AMP on anger knowledge at the two-month follow-up?

  Greater improvement than the control group
• What was the significant finding regarding offenders' ability to manage anger?

  Not significantly different from the control group
• What factor predicted improvement in offenders?

  Higher readiness for treatment
• What was the conclusion regarding predictions about offenders benefiting from AMP?

  Motivated offenders had the biggest positive change
• What was noted about the overall impact of AMP?

  Limited impact and benefits not always sustained
• Describe Howells et al sample and procedure

  • 418 male offenders mostly violent from different ethnic backgrounds in Australia that had been referred to AMP
  • 86% from prison based AMP while rest from community programmes
  • Offenders attended 10 sessions lasting 2 hours each
  • They had to identify provocations, relaxation, cognitive restricting and relapse prevention via skills activities
  • They also completed 2 international self report measures about experiences of anger and triggers before and after attending the programme