Moral Reconation Therapy® – MRT has been researched extensively and its results documented over the past three decades. A selection of MRT research and citations appears here.
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Published by The Gazette | Written by Deborah Grigsby
At CCI, we believe lasting recovery begins when individuals have structure, support, and the tools to rebuild their lives. That commitment is reflected at The Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center in Denver, where residents like Dustin, Isaiah, and Adam are finding stability through long-term treatment, mental health services, and Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT®.
Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® gives participants a framework to examine harmful thinking patterns, strengthen moral reasoning, and make healthier decisions. The men highlighted in this story show how powerful that structure can be when paired with safety, routine, and genuine support. Their progress mirrors what we see nationwide: renewed confidence, restored purpose, and a clearer path to sustained recovery.
Harbor Light’s success raises an important question: how many more lives could be transformed if more treatment programs integrated evidence-based approaches like MRT? [Read More]
What if the justice system could heal, rather than punish; giving women the tools to rebuild their lives?
Published by HNN Staff
At CCI, our mission is to transform lives, strengthen families, and restore communities through evidence-based rehabilitation programs like our Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT®.
That mission now extends to Hawai‘i Island, where the first Women’s Court has opened in Kona. This pilot program, funded by the state Legislature, offers justice-involved women access to trauma-informed, culturally rooted care through Nā Hulu Wehi, an enhancement of the Kona Adult Drug Court. Participants gain resources such as MRT, women-focused mental health services, peer recovery support, and cultural practitioner guidance—giving them tools not just to serve time, but to rebuild their futures with dignity and purpose.
The initiative reflects Hawai‘i’s growing commitment to breaking cycles of incarceration, reducing recidivism, and strengthening families across the islands. The question is, how far could this model go in reshaping justice for women statewide?
Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) is recognized by SAMHSA’s NREPP as an evidence-based cognitive behavioral program that reduces recidivism and improves decision making. Research across prisons, jails, drug courts, and community programs shows lower rearrest rates, fewer violations, and improved moral reasoning among MRT participants. SAMHSA also highlights MRT’s strong training, materials, and fidelity supports, making it a scalable and effective intervention. [Read More] (pdf)
At the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, MRT improved mental health stability, treatment participation, and institutional behavior among high-risk individuals. Participants showed fewer incidents, stronger medication compliance, and longer periods out of custody after release, demonstrating MRT’s effectiveness for justice-involved individuals with significant behavioral health needs. [Read More] (pdf)
A Kentucky DOC evaluation found that MRT significantly reduced disciplinary write-ups and recidivism across three prisons, with returns to custody dropping to as low as 5–8 percent for MRT participants compared to 22–40 percent for control groups. MRT also improved institutional behavior and produced consistent benefits across varied correctional environments. [Read More] (pdf)
Kentucky’s specialized MRT programs—Veterans, Parenting, Anger Management, and Behavior Modification—reduced disciplinary incidents and strengthened institutional safety across 12 prisons. Programs served individuals with high criminogenic and behavioral health needs, showing strong participation and lower recidivism among those completing MRT-based interventions. [Read More] (pdf)
Specialized MRT-based trauma programs in the Kentucky Department of Corrections—Breaking the Chains of Trauma for men and women and Battling Shadows for Veterans—showed significant reductions in disciplinary write-ups and lower recidivism rates from 2016 to 2020. Participants, most of whom were medium- or high-custody and had complex behavioral health needs, demonstrated improved emotional regulation, reduced oppositional behavior, and meaningful progress in managing trauma. Veterans showed especially strong declines in disciplinary issues and recidivism, reinforcing MRT’s effectiveness as a structured, trauma-informed intervention for justice-involved individuals. [Read More] (pdf)
This statewide evaluation of Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) in 13 Kentucky correctional institutions found major reductions in disciplinary incidents and strong recidivism outcomes for a high-risk, high-need population. Across 4,578 participants, disciplinary write-ups dropped by 86 percent overall, with sustained reductions confirmed through statistical testing. Recidivism results showed that 58 percent of released individuals remained in the community for more than two years, and only 13 percent returned. The program also improved mental health stability, medication compliance, and overall prison culture, while costing an average of $296 per participant and generating more than $40 million in estimated savings through reduced returns to custody. [Read More] (pdf)
Published by Carter County Times
At CCI, we believe that lasting change begins when individuals are given structured tools, meaningful support, and a chance to rebuild their lives with purpose. Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® remains one of the clearest ways we see those opportunities take root in real communities.
This belief is reflected in Carter County, where Jailer R.W. Boggs is expanding to structured, cognitive-behavioral treatment inside the correctional setting. By certifying two deputies as Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® facilitators, the jail is creating new pathways for individuals struggling with addiction to rebuild moral reasoning, increase self-awareness, and reduce their chances of relapse or return to custody.
With MRT classes beginning this November, eligible participants will gain a structured opportunity to work through negative thinking patterns and develop healthier decision-making skills. The initiative benefits the entire community by increasing recovery support, reducing recidivism, lowering long-term costs, and giving individuals a real chance to change the direction of their lives.
How much more progress could we see if every facility offered individuals the chance to learn, grow, and rebuild through Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT®? [Read More →]
How far can one person’s compassion go when paired with evidence-based care and a vision for change?
Published by VCU news | Written by Hayley Roulston
At CCI, our mission is to transform lives, strengthen families, and restore communities through evidence-based rehabilitation programs like our Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® training.
That same mission shines through the work of Dr. Barbara T. Lester, a family medicine physician who founded Joy House RVA, a nonprofit providing transitional housing and support for single women experiencing homelessness in Richmond, Virginia. Through trauma-informed care, community partnerships, and Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT®, Joy House RVA empowers women to rebuild their confidence, self-sufficiency, and stability after experiencing loss and hardship.
Each success story—like Denise, who completed Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT®, regained financial independence, and is preparing for permanent housing—shows how combining heart, science, and community can change lives from the inside out.
Dr. Lester’s leap of faith reflects the heart of CCI’s Moral Reconation Therapy–MRT®—proving that when evidence-based rehabilitation meets compassion, true healing reaches far beyond any program or profession.
So the question is—how many more lives could be transformed if every community embraced Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® as a pathway to restoration? [Read More →]
What if breaking cycles of domestic violence required more than punishment—what if it required rewiring the way individuals involved in the justice system?
Published by Tribune | Written by Amy Gilbert McGrath
At CCI, our mission is to transform lives, strengthen families, and restore communities through evidence-based rehabilitation programs like our Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® DV Training.
That mission is at work in Monroe Municipal Court, where Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® DV is helping domestic violence individuals involved in the justice system confront destructive patterns and build new tools for healthier relationships. Through structured cognitive-behavioral exercises, participants examine power, control, and decision- making —learning strategies to replace violent reactions with accountability and self-control.
With growing success, including seven graduates in 2024, Monroe’s Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® DV program shows how treatment can reduce reconviction rates and provide a low-cost, impactful option for courts and communities. Judges, probation counselors, and participants alike see the results: restored sobriety, stronger self-awareness, and real opportunities to break cycles of violence.
It’s a model proving that real change is possible even in the most challenging cases. The question is, how many more communities could benefit if Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® DV were expanded nationwide? [Read More →]
What happens when evidence-based rehabilitation meets accessibility—bringing hope to every inmate, in every language?
Published by The Huntington County Tab | Written by Kalika Redman Editor
At CCI, our mission is to transform lives, strengthen families, and restore communities through evidence-based rehabilitation programs like Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® (MRT).
That mission came to life at Huntington County Jail, where graduates recently completed MRT using Spanish-language workbooks for the first time. This milestone ensured that addiction recovery and reentry support could reach beyond language barriers, giving incarcerated individuals the chance to fully engage in their personal transformation.
Through CCI’s Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® cognitive-behavioral approach, participants learn to confront destructive patterns, rebuild accountability, and develop tools for healthier futures. Alongside Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT®, they also have access to substance use treatment, GED education, peer support, and life-skills training for reentry—resources that prepare them not just to leave jail, but to succeed beyond it.
It’s a powerful reminder that change is possible for every person, no matter their background. The question is—how far can this hope spread? [Read More →]
Can programs inside correctional facilities truly spark lasting change? The answer is yes—and we see it every day. What happens when evidence-based therapy meets the courage to change? Transformation.
Published by Times Union Online | Written by Jackie Gorski
At CCI, our mission is to transform lives, strengthen families, and restore communities through evidence-based rehabilitation programs like Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT® (MRT). That mission came to life as eight men proudly graduated from the 19th class of Kosciusko County’s Jail Chemical Addiction Program (JCAP)—a model of success in addiction recovery in correctional settings.
Over the past four months, these men have taken one of the hardest journeys—the journey inward—breaking destructive patterns, facing difficult truths, and building the foundation for healthier futures. Through Moral Reconation Therapy- MRT®, substance use treatment, anger management, financial literacy training, job readiness for reentry, Bible study, and community service, they grew not only in recovery, but also as fathers, sons, brothers, and leaders.
Local leaders and mentors celebrated their courage and commitment, reminding them that graduation is not the end but the beginning of a new chapter; one defined by reentry success, resilience, responsibility, and hope. Their success reflects the heart of CCI’s mission: empowering individuals to change their lives and, in turn, transform their communities.
But what challenges and opportunities await these men as they take their first steps beyond the jail walls? [Read More →]
Published by Snohomish County Tribune Newspapers
Monroe Municipal Court has adopted Domestic Violence, Moral Reconation Therapy-MRT ® to help reduce repeat offenses among individuals convicted of domestic violence. This evidence-based program is designed to reframe thinking patterns, strengthen moral reasoning, and build healthier relationship skills—offering lower-cost alternative to traditional domestic violence treatment.
Using the Finding Peace in Relationships workbook, participants attend weekly group sessions, complete structured homework, and tackle topics such as power and control, the cycle of violence, and stress management.
In 2024, seven participants graduated from the Monroe program. Research from the Washington Supreme Court Gender and Justice Commission shows that Domestic Violence, Moral Reconation Therapy-MRT® significantly lowers reconviction rates and supports long-term behavior change. Read more
Published by Washington State University
Researchers evaluated Domestic Violence, Moral Reconation Therapy-MRT ®program in King and Snohomish counties, Washington, to assess their impact on repeat offending among justice-involved individuals. Designed to strengthen moral reasoning, improve decision making, and promote positive behavioral change, Domestic Violence, Moral Reconation Therapy-MRT ® offers a more affordable alternative to traditional domestic interventions while maintaining evidence-based standards.
Using a quasi-experimental design with a matched historical comparison group, the analysis found that Domestic Violence, Moral Reconation Therapy-MRT ® participants had lower one-year reconviction rates for domestic violence (8.4% vs. 12.5%) and slightly reduced rates at two years (14.9% vs 19.0%). Read more
Published by Sage Publications
This study reports on a meta-analysis of moral reconation therapy (MRT). Recipients of MRT included adult and juvenile offenders who were in custody or in the community, typically on parole or probation. The study considered criminal offending subsequent to treatment as the outcome variable. The overall effect size measured by the correlation across 33 studies and 30,259 offenders was significant (r = .16), indicating that MRT had a small but important effect on recidivism. Read more (PDF)
Published by the National Center for State Courts
The critical finding from the first report was that drug court participants in the sample were significantly less likely to reactivate than the carefully matched “business-as-usual” comparison group and that this reduction in recidivism was a robust and sustained effect. Read more (PDF)
Graduate-Student Thesis Presented to Western Carolina University Faculty by Ashley Jean Evans
Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) is a cognitive-behavioral group therapy, designed to rehabilitate offenders and reduce recidivism. The current study explores the effects of Moral Reconation Therapy on adolescents in a group home setting. Participants included 15 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17, residing in a group home in the
Southeastern region of the United States. The Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2) was used as a pre-test and post-test measure to assess participants’ self-reported changes in Locus of Control, Social Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Sense of Inadequacy, Sensation Seeking, Relations with Parents, Interpersonal Relations, Self-Esteem and Self-Reliance. Overall results indicated that significant changes existed between pre-test and post-test measures in the areas of Locus of Control, Depression and Relations with Parents. Read more (PDF)
Nebraska Center for Justice Research University of Nebraska, Omaha 2018
This project evaluated the Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) program that is used in the Nebraska
Department of Correctional Services (NDCS). The goals of the project were to provide feedback to
NDCS regarding: 1. The NDCS facilities that successfully provide MRT services to inmates; 2.
Whether MRT participation reduces institutional misconducts and recidivism among inmates; 3.
Whether MRT program participation is related to inmates’ participation in other types of
programming; and 4. The characteristics of inmates who participate in and complete MRT
programming. Read more (PDF).
