Examples of anger management programmes with offenders

• Ireland (2004) – Young Offenders in Prison

  Q: What was the aim of Ireland’s (2004) study?

  • To assess the effectiveness of anger management therapy in young male offenders.
• What was the method?

  • Sample: 87 young male prisoners.
  • Procedure:
  • Experimental group (50 prisoners) – Underwent a 12-session anger management program over three days.
  • Control group (37 prisoners) – Placed on a waitlist (received no immediate therapy).
  • Measures: Pre-treatment and post-treatment anger were assessed using:

  1. Self-report questionnaires on anger levels.
  2. Prison officer observations of aggressive behavior.
• What were the findings?

  • 92% of treated prisoners showed improvement in at least one type of aggressive behavior.
  • 8% showed a deterioration.
  • No improvement in the control group.
• Trimble et al. (2015) – Probation Offenders in Northern Ireland

  How was Trimble et al.'s (2015) study different from Ireland’s (2004)?

  • Study focused on probation offenders instead of prisoners.
  • Participants had poor emotional control leading to criminal behavior, not just violent offenders.
  • Treatment lasted nine weekly sessions of two hours each.
• What were the results?

  • Significant reduction in both anger expression and experience compared to pre-treatment scores.