[Forensic Addiction Treatment in Germany: an Evaluation of its Effects on Criminal Recidivism and a Response to Critical Comments].

UNLABELLED: In Germany, offenders with addiction problems may be sentenced to treatment in forensic psychiatric hospitals. A considerable share of patients, in some hospitals more than 40 percent, is returned to prison. The paper presents findings of a long-term evaluation study.

METHOD: 16 hospitals participated and provided data on patients' background and course of treatment. The Federal Office of Justice reported on patients' conduct after discharge in terms of new entries in the federal criminal register (FCR). A matched sample of controls - prisoners with addiction problems - was recruited referring to a schema of criminological characteristics.

FINDINGS: The former patients' social adjustment was significantly better than the former prisoners': the total risk reduction (less new FCR-entries) amounted over 20 percent (effect-size bcohen > 0.45). This comparison included all patients returned to prison.

DISCUSSION: The treatments reveal - in total - a significant and substantial effect in favor of patients' later adjustment, though a too large subgroup of patients is returned to prison.