PARCA mobile app to help people on probation or parole set and reach supervision and recovery goals
PARCA (a Digital Tool) to Improve Justice and Health
This project will test whether the PARCA mobile app helps people on probation or parole who use drugs set and reach goals to support recovery and successful community supervision.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | George Mason University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Austin, Texas and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07199374 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This intervention provides justice-involved people with a smartphone app that uses motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral techniques to guide problem-solving, goal selection, progress tracking, and point-based incentives. Supervising officers can view clients' goals, progress, and accumulated points to inform supervision. The study enrolls justice-involved individuals who report drug use and their supervising officers at two county community supervision sites and follows app use with periodic surveys and interviews. Surveys and qualitative interviews will be used to understand user experience and identify ways to improve treatment connections and goal achievement.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults on probation or parole who report recent drug use, have access to a smartphone, and are supervised at the participating Travis County (Austin) or Dallas County (Dallas) sites, with supervising officers at those sites also participating.
Not a fit: People with serious untreated mental health disorders, those without reliable smartphone access, or officers not actively supervising at the participating sites may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, PARCA could increase treatment engagement and goal achievement and reduce supervision violations and recidivism among participants.
How similar studies have performed: Mobile interventions using motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral techniques have shown mixed but promising results for substance use, while their specific use within probation/parole supervision is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: All officers that supervise individuals All individuals on supervision that indicate drug use - Exclusion Criteria: Individuals that have poor performance on their job clients have serious mental health disorders \-
Where this trial is running
Austin, Texas and 1 other locations
- Travis County Community Services — Austin, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
- Dallas County Community Supervision — Dallas, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Faye S. Taxman, PhD — George Mason University
- Study coordinator: Faye S Taxman, Ph.D.
- Email: ftaxman@gmu.edu
- Phone: 7039938555
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.