Mixed Method Evaulation of Jockey Club Project ReBond

NCT07593534 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: EA250537
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Overall, the investigators hypothesize that participants assigned to the intervention group (Project ReBond) will demonstrate significantly greater improvements across all outcomes compared to the control group. Specifically, the investigators expect positive intervention effects on desistance and TPB outcomes to become evident as participants transition back into the community (i.e., across the at 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release assessment waves), while workshop-specific outcomes will be evident at the end of the workshop. Overall Design The current study employs a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) utilizing a mixed design. The between-subjects factor is the treatment condition (Project ReBond Intervention plus TAU versus TAU Control), and the within-subjects factor is time, with repeated measures assessed across multiple time points over a 13-month tracking period. Intervention Group (Project ReBond + TAU) Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive the multifaceted Project ReBond services alongside standard care (TAU) for up to two years, beginning during their incarceration and continuing post-release. It should be noted that the 13-month research tracking period is shorter than the full two-year service duration; this truncated follow-up is necessary due to anticipated challenges in recruiting the predefined sample size before the project's overall deadline. The TAU is provided by the collaborating non-governmental organization (NGO), SideBySide. The Project ReBond intervention consists of the following specific components:

• Pre-Release (During Incarceration): Each participant will receive a 6-session pro-social habit workshop and career-life counselling as part of their pre-release preparation. Those requiring employment assistance will be provided with job interview opportunities prior to their release.
• Post-Release: Based on their personal interests and the recommendations of their caseworker, participants can choose to engage in the following services: i) Subsidies for professional grooming and image building; ii) Peer mentorship provided by successful desisters; iii) Financial literacy training and counselling; iv) Ongoing career-life counselling; v) Routine workshops designed to cultivate and maintain pro-social hobbies; vi) Subsidies for further education or occupational training; vii) Family-based counselling involving the participant and their significant other(s); and viii) Volunteering and community outreach, sharing opportunities. TAU Control Group Participants in the control group will receive standard care (TAU) while incarcerated and remain free to utilize any existing social services post-release.

Conditions

Recidivism

Keywords

Desistance; RCT; Social Work; Theory of Planned Behaviour

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Self-Reported Re-offending

  To capture the two-dimensional nature of act desistance-specifically the frequency and severity of reoffending, this construct is measured using the self-constructed item: "I have committed fewer crimes than before." Both items are rated on a 6-point scale ranging from 0 (Not committing any crime) to 5 (Committing more/more serious crimes than before). Higher scores indicate worse reoffending outcomes.

  1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release

Secondary Outcomes (16)

• Post-Release Living Inventory for Ex-Prisoners (PROLI-ex)

  1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release

• Continuance Intention

  1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release

• Identification with Desistance

  Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release

• Reintegration Needs

  Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release

• Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ)

  1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release

Study Arms (2)

ReBond (Desistance-based social work) +Treatment as Usual

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive the multifaceted Project ReBond services alongside standard care (TAU) for up to two years, beginning during their incarceration and continuing post-release. It should be noted that the 13-month research tracking period is shorter than the full two-year service duration; this truncated follow-up is necessary due to anticipated challenges in recruiting the predefined sample size before the project's overall deadline. The TAU is provided by the collaborating non-governmental organization (NGO), SideBySide.

Other: Desistance-based Social Work; Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Treatment as Usual

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the control group will receive standard care (TAU) while incarcerated and remain free to utilize any existing social services post-release. Specifically, control participants will be encouraged to engage with the standard services provided by SideBySide, whose standard care is informed by Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) principles.

Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Interventions

Desistance-based Social Work OTHER

The Project ReBond intervention consists of the following specific components: * Pre-Release (During Incarceration): Each participant will receive a 6-session pro-social habit workshop and career-life counselling as part of their pre-release preparation. Those requiring employment assistance will be provided with job interview opportunities prior to their release. * Post-Release: Based on their personal interests and the recommendations of their caseworker, participants can choose to engage in the following services: i) Subsidies for professional grooming and image building; ii) Peer mentorship provided by successful desisters; iii) Financial literacy training and counselling; iv) Ongoing career-life counselling; v) Routine workshops designed to cultivate and maintain pro-social hobbies; vi) Subsidies for further education or occupational training; vii) Family-based counselling involving the participant and their significant other(s); and viii) Volunteering and community outreach

ReBond (Desistance-based social work) +Treatment as Usual

Treatment as Usual (TAU) OTHER

Participants in the control group will receive standard care (TAU) while incarcerated and remain free to utilize any existing social services post-release. Specifically, control participants will be encouraged to engage with the standard services provided by SideBySide, whose standard care is informed by Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) principles.

ReBond (Desistance-based social work) +Treatment as Usual; Treatment as Usual

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Hong Kong residents;
• Aged 18 years or above and capable of providing informed consent
• Serving a maximum of two sentences (including the current one) across any level or type of correctional facility
• The current sentence lasts between 3 and 12 months.

You may not qualify if:

• Physical conditions that preclude participation in at least 80% (six or seven sessions) of the Stage 1 in-prison workshops
• Psychological conditions (e.g. bipolar disorder or schizophrenia) that preclude participation in at least 80% (six or seven sessions) of the Stage 1 in-prison workshops
• Medical appointments that preclude participation in at least 80% (six or seven sessions) of the Stage 1 in-prison workshops
• Inadequate Cantonese or English proficiency that prevent the individual from providing informed consent and participating in the Stage 1 group workshops
• Cognitive impairments that prevent the individual from providing informed consent and participating in the Stage 1 group workshops
• A history or high risk of inflicting physical harm on other participants, clinicians, or CSD staff

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead
• The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, 000, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

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  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Recidivism

Interventions

Therapeutics

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Criminal Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Paul Wong, D.Psyc.

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Sunny Chow, BSocSc

CONTACT

85295565912; suunyccc@hku.hk

Kylie Lui, P.h.D. (Soci)

CONTACT

8523910 2115; kcylui@hku.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2026
• First Posted: May 18, 2026
• Study Start: April 16, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)