Staff Training Aimed at Reducing Rearrest (STARR)
Problems addressed
Recidivism
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Adults (18 to 59 years)
Seniors (60 years and older)
Where the program was applied
Workplace
Community (streets or community centers)
Country of application
United States
Description

This is an education and training program for community supervision officers who provide direct service to offenders under supervision. The goal is to change the role of the probation officer from a traditional compliance officer to an agent of change, i.e., one that is geared towards reducing recidivism rates, through the training received.
The training follows a structured cognitive behavioral supervision approach that addresses risk factors by improving interactions between officers and offenders. Officers were also trained in motivational interviewing for high-risk offenders.

Impact evaluations

An experimental study showed that relapse rates, after 12 months of follow-up, were statistically lower in those treated than in the controls, who did not receive the program’s intervention. However, although the rate was also lower after 24 months, the difference was not statistically significant. When combined with motivational interviewing, recidivism rates were also lower, especially for high-risk offenders [1].
The study had a sample size of 999 cases. The treatment group consisted of 595 offenders, and the control group consisted of 404 participants. As for the officers, 26 were included in the trained officer group and 15 in the untrained officer group. Outcomes were measured in terms of recidivism rates after 12 and 24 months for medium-risk offenders [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Robinson, C. R., VanBenschoten, S., Alexander, M., & Lowenkamp, C. T. (2011). A random (almost) study of staff training aimed at reducing re-arrest (STARR): Reducing recidivism through intentional design. Fed. Probation, 75, 57.

[2] Lowenkamp, C. T., Holsinger, A., Robinson, C. R., & Alexander, M. (2014). Diminishing or durable treatment effects of STARR? A research note on 24-month re-arrest rates. Journal of Crime and Justice, 37(2), 275-283.

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