RecidivismReBondNCT07593534
Mixed Method Evaulation of Jockey Club Project ReBond
A study testing Desistance-based Social Work and Treatment as Usual (TAU) in people with Recidivism, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Recidivism
- What is being tested?
- Desistance-based Social Work and Treatment as Usual (TAU)
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 300 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 16 Apr 2026to Sep 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, 000
Sunny Chow, BSocSc, 85295565912, suunyccc@hku.hk
Kylie Lui, PhD (Soci), 8523910 2115, kcylui@hku.hk
About this study
Official title: 'Through the Gate' Desistance-Based Social Work Intervention for Offenders Serving First or Second Prison Sentence in Hong Kong - Jockey Club Project ReBond: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Randomised Control Trial
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.
Read more
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:
- 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.
Read the detailed description
Pre-Release Workshop Outcomes
In terms of workshop-specific outcomes, compared to the control group, participants in the intervention group will demonstrate at post-test:
- H6 (Workshop Effects):
- H6a (Art Workshop): Significantly higher emotional competence.
- H6b (Sports Workshop): Significantly higher resilience.
- H6c (Tech Workshop): Significantly higher AI literacy.
- H6d (Tech Workshop): Significantly higher problem-solving confidence.
Exploratory Outcomes
Compared to the TAU control group, across post-release follow-ups, participants in the intervention group will demonstrate:
- H7: Significantly higher levels of well-being.
- H8: Significantly higher levels of thriving.
- Conditions
- Recidivism
- Being tested
- Desistance-based Social Work, Treatment as Usual (TAU)
- Keywords
- Desistance, RCT, Social Work, Theory of Planned Behaviour
- Medical subject headings
- Recidivism
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Desistance-based Social WorkOther
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:
- 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
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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Receives: 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. Receives: Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
Measured: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Secondary outcomes (16)
Post-Release Living Inventory for Ex-Prisoners (PROLI-ex)
The PROLI-ex measures post-release daily routines and behaviors linked to health and desistance outcomes, which predict self-reported reoffending. Upon request, the original authors provided an unpublished, localized short Chinese version of the scale. This 17-item scale comprises four subscales: institutional routine, active living, online leisure, and support seeking (α=0.71,0.69,0.81,0.69). Participants indicate how regularly they performed specific routines over the past two weeks on an 11-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not regular at all) to 10 (Very regular). Scores are calculated by averaging the items within each subscale, as well as averaging all items for a total score.
Measured: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Continuance Intention
To measure engagement with the ReBond project, participants will complete a self-constructed 4-item measure of continuance intention. Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 7 (Strongly agree). Higher scores indicate a stronger intention to continue. The internal consistency of this measure will be calculated and reported in the final analysis.
Measured: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Identification with Desistance
Pro-social identity, conceptualized as identity desistance, is measured using the 5-item Identification with Desistance scale, which assesses an individual's subjective law-abiding identity. Participants rate their responses on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Always). The final score is calculated by summing the items, with higher scores indicating a stronger pro-social identity. The reported internal consistency for this scale is α=0.62.
Measured: Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Reintegration Needs
Relational desistance is operationalized as the level of concern regarding various reentry barriers across several domains: basic needs, work and career, health and well-being, digital literacy, and interpersonal relationships. Adapted from the Barriers to Reentry Success Inventory and integrated with clinical insights, this scale asks participants to rate their concerns on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (No Concern) to 4 (Great Concern), with an additional "Not Applicable" (N/A) option. Scores are calculated by summing the items for each subscale and for the total score, with higher scores indicating a higher need for reintegration support. Internal consistency will be calculated and reported after data collection.
Measured: Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ)
Stigma consciousness refers to the anticipated stigma an individual expects to experience. A modified 10-item Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire is used, with the subject adapted to "ex-offenders." Participants rate items on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 7 (Strongly agree). Higher scores indicate higher anticipated stigma. Internal consistency will be calculated and reported after data collection.
Measured: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)
The MSPSS measures an individual's perception of social support across three sources: significant others, family, and friends. This 12-item questionnaire utilizes a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 7 (Strongly agree), with higher scores indicating higher perceived social support. Previous research indicates good to excellent reliability for the subscales: significant other (α=0.91), family (α=0.87), and friends (α=0.85).
Measured: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Social Integration Indicators (Education, Housing, Employment, Health)
To capture objective markers of social integration, the following self-constructed items are utilized:
- Education: Participants indicate whether they have received any education or training post-release (Yes/No). If responded "Yes," they specify the type.
- Housing: Participants indicate whether they have a stable shelter for the next 12 months (Yes/No), followed by categorical questions regarding ownership and housing type.
- Employment: Participants indicate their current employment status (Yes/No), where unpaid labor (e.g., caregiving) is classified as work. Data regarding occupation type and income level are also collected.
- Health: Participants indicate whether they have been diagnosed with any new health conditions post-release (Yes/No). Subjective health is assessed using a single item: "On a scale from 0 to 10 (0 = worst, 10 = best), how would you rate your own health over the past month?"
Measured: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Agency for Desistance (ADQ)
The ADQ assesses offenders' intentions to change and their perceived ability to stay crime-free. The original 10-item scale has acceptable internal consistency (α=0.77). Following communication with the original authors, 6 additional items were added to more accurately measure the construct. The internal consistency of the final 16-item scale will be calculated and reported in the final analysis.
Measured: Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Factors of Motivation for Desistance (FoM-D)
The FoM-D assesses motivational factors (attitude, perceived social norm, self-efficacy, and positive affect) expected to predict the ADQ. The first three constructs are measured using a modified scale. Participants rate their responses on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Always), some items with an added "Not Applicable" option. Scores are summed, with higher scores indicating stronger motivation. Reported internal consistencies for these subscales are α=0.62, α=0.65, and α=0.61. An option 'Not Applicable' is added so some questions where it asks the frequency of an experience. Since an option that is close to 'never' is not provided in the original scale. A 'Not Applicable' is added to those options with instructions to allow respondents to answer that the particular question does not apply to them.
Measured: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Positive Affect
Measured using the Positive Feelings subscale of the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT). This is a 3-item subscale rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Scores are summed. While the full CIT has shown strong reliability (α=0.77 to 0.96), internal consistency for this specific subscale alone is not previously available and will be calculated.
Measured: Intake assessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC) for Art Workshop
The PEC measures individual differences in the identification, understanding, expression, regulation, and use of emotions. To align with workshop objectives, only three subscales are used: 'Identification of own emotions,' 'Understanding of own emotions,' and 'Expression of own emotions.' Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Does not describe me at all) to 5 (Describes me very well). The full 50-item scale has excellent internal consistency (α=0.93); the reliability of the specific subscales used will be calculated.
Measured: Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) for Sports Workshop
The BRS measures the ability to bounce back or recover from stress. This 6-item scale utilizes a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Previous research demonstrates good to excellent reliability across samples (α=0.80 to 0.91).
Measured: Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
A.I. Literacy (AIL) for Tech Workshop
The AIL is a combined 12-item measure of subscales from ChatGPT literacy and AI self-efficacy scale. It sources 8 items from the intrinsic motivation and behavioral commitment subscale of the AILQ ( a = 0.88) and 4 items from the creative application subscale of the ChatGPT literacy scale (a = 0.79). Both scales use a 5-point Likert format ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree).
Measured: Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) for Tech Workshop
The PSI measures problem-solving confidence, approach-avoidance style, and personal control. To align with workshop objectives, only the problem-solving confidence subscale is used. Items are rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 6 (Strongly agree). The full inventory has excellent reliability (α=0.90), and the selected subscale is also highly reliable (α=0.85).
Measured: Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
Well-Being
General well-being is assessed using a 6-item scale recommended by the literature as an optimal short measure. Items are rated on a 10-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Not at all) to 10 (Completely). Internal consistency will be calculated and reported in the final analysis.
Measured: Intake assessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT)
The CIT measures a broad range of psychological well-being constructs, representing a holistic view of positive functioning. This 54-item scale covers 18 domains, including support, learning, mastery experience, and autonomy. Participants rate items on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Across five distinct samples in previous research, the CIT demonstrated acceptable to excellent internal consistency (α=0.77 - 0.96).
Measured: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 May 2026
- Study start16 Apr 2026
- Primary completionSep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (22)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for RecidivismStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Professor Wong, Paul Wai Ching, The University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Paul Wong, D.Psyc., Principal investigator, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07593534
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EA250537
- Acronym
- ReBond
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 22 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared because the original Informed Consent Form signed by the participants did not include permission to share individual-level data with external researchers or third parties. Furthermore, the trial involves highly sensitive information (i.e., self-reported reoffending) where the risk of a potential data breach outweighs the benefits of sharing, as disclosure could introduce legal risks for both the participants and the researchers.
Publications
Zimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2
Wittes J. Sample size calculations for randomized controlled trials. Epidemiol Rev. 2002;24(1):39-53. doi: 10.1093/epirev/24.1.39. No abstract available.
PubMed 12119854VanderWeele TJ, Trudel-Fitzgerald C, Allin P, Farrelly C, Fletcher G, Frederick DE, Hall J, Helliwell JF, Kim ES, Lauinger WA, Lee MT, Lyubomirsky S, Margolis S, McNeely E, Messer N, Tay L, Viswanath V, Weziak-Bialowolska D, Kubzansky LD. Current recommendations on the selection of measures for well-being. Prev Med. 2020 Feb 1;133:106004. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106004. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 32006530Team, R. C. (2025). R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. In https://www.R-project.org/
Su R, Tay L, Diener E. The development and validation of the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT) and the Brief Inventory of Thriving (BIT). Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2014 Nov;6(3):251-79. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12027. Epub 2014 Jun 12.
PubMed 24919454Rocque, M. (2021). But what does it mean?: Defining, measuring, and analyzing desistance from crime in criminal justice. US Department of Justice
Rizopoulos, D., Miranda-Afonso, P., & Papageorgiou, G. (2026). JMbayes2: Extended Joint Models for Longitudinal and Time-to-Event Data. In https://github.com/drizopoulos/jmbayes2
Pinel EC. Stigma consciousness: the psychological legacy of social stereotypes. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1999 Jan;76(1):114-28. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.76.1.114.
PubMed 9972557Olver ME, Stockdale KC, Wormith JS. A meta-analysis of predictors of offender treatment attrition and its relationship to recidivism. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2011 Feb;79(1):6-21. doi: 10.1037/a0022200.
PubMed 21261430Ng, D. T. K., Wu, W., Leung, J. K. L., Chiu, T. K. F., & Chu, S. K. W. (2024). Design and validation of the AI literacy questionnaire: The affective, behavioural, cognitive and ethical approach. British Journal of Educational Technology, 55(3), 1082-1104. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13411
Miller, H. A. (2018). The Inventory of Offender Risk, Needs, and Strengths (IORNS). In Handbook of Recidivism Risk/Needs Assessment Tools (pp. 101-116). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119184256.ch5
Lloyd, C. D., & Serin, R. C. (2012). Agency and outcome expectancies for crime desistance: measuring offenders' personal beliefs about change†. Psychology, Crime & Law, 18(6), 543-565. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2010.511221
Liptak, J. J. (n.d.). Barriers to Reentry Success Inventory Administrator's Guide.
Lee, S., & Park, G. (2024). Development and validation of ChatGPT literacy scale. Current Psychology, 43(21), 18992-19004. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05723-0
Kuznetsova, A., Brockhoff, P. B., & Christensen, R. H. B. (2017). lmerTest Package: Tests in Linear Mixed Effects Models. Journal of Statistical Software, 82(13), 1 - 26. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v082.i13
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- 'Through the Gate' Desistance-Based Social Work Intervention for Offenders Serving First or Second Prison Sentence in Hong Kong - Jockey Club Project ReBond: A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Randomised Control Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07593534
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ReBond / EA250537
- Conditions
- Recidivism
- Keywords
- Desistance, RCT, Social Work, Theory of Planned Behaviour
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust
- Study start
- 16 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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:
- 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.
Detailed description
Pre-Release Workshop Outcomes
In terms of workshop-specific outcomes, compared to the control group, participants in the intervention group will demonstrate at post-test:
- H6 (Workshop Effects):
- H6a (Art Workshop): Significantly higher emotional competence.
- H6b (Sports Workshop): Significantly higher resilience.
- H6c (Tech Workshop): Significantly higher AI literacy.
- H6d (Tech Workshop): Significantly higher problem-solving confidence.
Exploratory Outcomes
Compared to the TAU control group, across post-release follow-ups, participants in the intervention group will demonstrate:
- H7: Significantly higher levels of well-being.
- H8: Significantly higher levels of thriving.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ReBond (Desistance-based social work) +Treatment as Usual | Experimental | Other: Desistance-based Social Work, Other: Treatment as Usual (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. |
| Treatment as Usual | Active comparator | Other: Treatment as Usual (TAU)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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Desistance-based Social WorkThe 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 | Other | ReBond (Desistance-based social work) +Treatment as Usual |
| Treatment as Usual (TAU)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 | ReBond (Desistance-based social work) +Treatment as Usual, Treatment as Usual |
Primary outcome
Self-Reported Re-offending
Time frame: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
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.
16 secondary outcomes
Post-Release Living Inventory for Ex-Prisoners (PROLI-ex)
Time frame: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Continuance Intention
Time frame: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Identification with Desistance
Time frame: Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Reintegration Needs
Time frame: Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Stigma Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ)
Time frame: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)
Time frame: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Social Integration Indicators (Education, Housing, Employment, Health)
Time frame: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Agency for Desistance (ADQ)
Time frame: Intake asssessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Factors of Motivation for Desistance (FoM-D)
Time frame: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Positive Affect
Time frame: Intake assessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC) for Art Workshop
Time frame: Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) for Sports Workshop
Time frame: Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
A.I. Literacy (AIL) for Tech Workshop
Time frame: Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) for Tech Workshop
Time frame: Baseline (First session) and 7 weeks later (last session of the Stage 1 workshop)
Well-Being
Time frame: Intake assessment, 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT)
Time frame: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 May 2026.
- BackgroundZimet, G. D., Dahlem, N. W., Zimet, S. G., & Farley, G. K. (1988). The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(1), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa5201_2
- Background: PubMed 12119854Wittes J. Sample size calculations for randomized controlled trials. Epidemiol Rev. 2002;24(1):39-53. doi: 10.1093/epirev/24.1.39. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 32006530VanderWeele TJ, Trudel-Fitzgerald C, Allin P, Farrelly C, Fletcher G, Frederick DE, Hall J, Helliwell JF, Kim ES, Lauinger WA, Lee MT, Lyubomirsky S, Margolis S, McNeely E, Messer N, Tay L, Viswanath V, Weziak-Bialowolska D, Kubzansky LD. Current recommendations on the selection of measures for well-being. Prev Med. 2020 Feb 1;133:106004. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106004. Online ahead of print.
- BackgroundTeam, R. C. (2025). R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. In https://www.R-project.org/
- Background: PubMed 24919454Su R, Tay L, Diener E. The development and validation of the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT) and the Brief Inventory of Thriving (BIT). Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2014 Nov;6(3):251-79. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12027. Epub 2014 Jun 12.
- BackgroundRocque, M. (2021). But what does it mean?: Defining, measuring, and analyzing desistance from crime in criminal justice. US Department of Justice
- BackgroundRizopoulos, D., Miranda-Afonso, P., & Papageorgiou, G. (2026). JMbayes2: Extended Joint Models for Longitudinal and Time-to-Event Data. In https://github.com/drizopoulos/jmbayes2
- Background: PubMed 9972557Pinel EC. Stigma consciousness: the psychological legacy of social stereotypes. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1999 Jan;76(1):114-28. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.76.1.114.
- Background: PubMed 21261430Olver ME, Stockdale KC, Wormith JS. A meta-analysis of predictors of offender treatment attrition and its relationship to recidivism. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2011 Feb;79(1):6-21. doi: 10.1037/a0022200.
- BackgroundNg, D. T. K., Wu, W., Leung, J. K. L., Chiu, T. K. F., & Chu, S. K. W. (2024). Design and validation of the AI literacy questionnaire: The affective, behavioural, cognitive and ethical approach. British Journal of Educational Technology, 55(3), 1082-1104. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13411
- BackgroundMiller, H. A. (2018). The Inventory of Offender Risk, Needs, and Strengths (IORNS). In Handbook of Recidivism Risk/Needs Assessment Tools (pp. 101-116). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119184256.ch5
- BackgroundLloyd, C. D., & Serin, R. C. (2012). Agency and outcome expectancies for crime desistance: measuring offenders' personal beliefs about change†. Psychology, Crime & Law, 18(6), 543-565. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2010.511221
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared because the original Informed Consent Form signed by the participants did not include permission to share individual-level data with external researchers or third parties. Furthermore, the trial involves highly sensitive information (i.e., self-reported reoffending) where the risk of a potential data breach outweighs the benefits of sharing, as disclosure could introduce legal risks for both the participants and the researchers.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Paul Wong, D.Psyc. principal investigator
The University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Desistance-based Social Work and Treatment as Usual (TAU) in people with Recidivism, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Sunny Chow, BSocSc (85295565912, suunyccc@hku.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Self-Reported Re-offending (time frame: 1-2 months, 6-7 months, and 13-14 months post-release). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07593534, which also lists 22 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 May 2026.