This project conducted a mixed-methods evaluation of Family Group Conferencing (FGC) for justice-involved individuals returning to the community, integrating a process study of implementation and participant experiences, an impact study using a randomized controlled design, and a cost study assessing the comparative costs and benefits of the intervention. This comprehensive approach examined not only whether FGC produced measurable effects but also how it was delivered and whether it created value from a system-level perspective.
The process study found that participants generally viewed FGC as a meaningful opportunity to acknowledge harm, take accountability, and repair family relationships. Participants reported feeling respected and treated without stigma, though feedback on fairness, inclusion in decision-making, and facilitator listening suggested variability in delivery quality. The impact study detected no statistically significant differences between treatment and control groups across psychosocial outcomes or recidivism. While observed patterns hinted at modest positive change, the small sample size and low incidence of recidivism limited the study’s ability to detect meaningful effects. The cost analysis indicated that the program was not cost-beneficial within the short-term observation period, as program delivery costs exceeded any immediate savings to the justice system. However, potential long-term and non-monetary benefits such as strengthened family ties, reduced stigma, and enhanced legitimacy of justice processes may justify continued exploration. Overall, this project demonstrates that FGC can be implemented in a reentry setting with fidelity, but its measurable impacts remain uncertain, underscoring the need for larger, longer-term evaluations to determine its effectiveness and value.
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