Validating the Principles of Effective Intervention: A Systematic Review of the Contributions of Meta-Analysis in the Field of Corrections

Responding to the “nothing works” movement in corrections, researchers in the field of corrections have employed meta-analytic techniques since the mid-1980s to cumulate knowledge on the effectiveness of offender rehabilitation programs. The purpose of this article is to summarize the contributions of these quantitative reviews in the field of corrections with special emphasis on the validation of the principles of effective intervention in particular. Meta-analysis has facilitated the identification of “what works” within correctional treatment, including the specific criteria for optimizing effectiveness along clinically and psychologically relevant dimensions.