What the Experts Say about CMI

External, independent evaluation indicates that CMI operates some of the best programs in the United States.  Dr. Patricia Van Voorhis of the University of Cincinnati, along with representatives of local county government, reviewed all aspects of our program. Utilizing the Correctional Program Assessment Inventory [CPAI] developed by Dr. Paul Gendreau, Dr. Van Voorhis compared our programs to the "ideal program". She indicated in her final report that when compared to other programs in the United States and Canada, CMI was one of the top three based upon the CPAI.  Further, she said "Dr. Paul Gendreau indicated that CMI has received one of the three highest scores he has seen to date."

CPAI Findings

 Dr. Van Voorhis indicated "In comparison to results achieved by other programs, then, CMI's scores are superior."

 Comparing CMI’s scores with Dr. Gendreau's baseline study of 101 correctional programs in Canada and the United States:

Mean CPAI Score in Gendreau’s study:        25%
 CPAI Score for CMI:                                        80%

Baseline scores for Treatment Scales of programs in the U.S. and Canada:

Mean Treatment Score in Gendreau’s study:   29%
Treatment Score for CMI:                                   81%

Dr. Van Voorhis' Comments Concerning CMI's Programs

Staff:

“Both treatment and line staff reflect CMI's careful attention to appropriate hiring criteria and an appreciation for educational requirements and other individual qualities that make for effective role models and change agents."

 "Staff are exceptionally well trained. Staff evidenced knowledge of this training in focus groups and discussion with the program reviewer. CMI in fact may have one of the finest training models that this reviewer has observed."

 "...many programs [are] highly vulnerable to problems associated with staff attrition or "program drift". CMI is a refreshing exception to these trends."

 Security:

 “Clients are intensively monitored in both CMI facilities...[the CPAI] recognized CMI for placing its community based correctional clients under consistent monitoring and supervision".

Assessment Process:

 "...the assessment model developed by CMI scored a 93 percent on the assessment scale of the CPAI. This indicates that the program model is not simply comprehensive, but rather is comprehensive in a way that has been noted to translate into program effectiveness and fit the 'state of the art' in correctional practice."

Cognitive-Behavioral Programs: (Quick Skills)

"An overview of the modules finds that most clearly fit into either a social learning or a cognitive behavioral (e.g. cognitive restructuring and cognitive skills) model. In many instances the learning process follows Goldstein's 4 step
process for skill acquisition...The social learning and cognitive behavioral models, of course, are the treatment modalities found to be most effective in offender treatment."

"The manuals are very clear and offer a good deal of structure and learning activities to trainers."

"Modules are intensive; most offer 7-75 minutes sessions"

"The current prototypes for cognitive programming in corrections are designed to be delivered in approximately 40 weeks, and therefore are not appropriate to facilities such as jails or halfway houses where lengths of stays are much shorter. To its credit, CMI has tailored the larger cognitive-behavioral units to accommodate this problem. The Quick Skills model essentially breaks down the larger model into shorter units which are then 'matched' to clients according to assessment results."

 "Through these modules, at least 13 of the criminogenic needs listed in the CPAI are addressed."

General Program Elements:

 "CMI's employment services have impacted substantially upon the proportion of clients employed."

"CMI carefully attends to program integrity through strong internal auditing procedures that verify the accuracy and integrity of assessment models and case planning procedures.

"CMI's program audits demonstrate commendable attention to program integrity. Again, this is one of the program's truly strong points."

"Committed personnel clearly have worked hard to design, learn, and implement a program that evidences a high degree of program integrity."

"...clients who were fully employed and complying with their treatment plans were in all likelihood engaging more than 40 percent of their time in therapeutic tasks."

"The continuity of care between residential and non- residential services is noteworthy."