The term “moral” refers to moral reasoning based on Kohlberg’s levels of cognitive reasoning. The word “reconation” comes from the psychological terms “conative” and “conation”, both which refer to the process of making conscious decisions. MRT is a cognitive-behavioral treatment system that leads to enhanced moral reasoning, better decision making, and more appropriate behavior.

MRT was initially developed in the 1980’s as the cognitive-behavioral component in a prison-based therapeutic community. Because of its remarkable success, the program was then tested and widely implemented in general inmate populations, with juvenile offenders, in parole and probation settings, community corrections, hospital and outpatient programs, education setting and in drug courts. The program leads to increased participation and completion rates, decreased disciplinary infractions, beneficial changes in personality characteristics and significantly lower recidivism rates. Unlike other program outcomes, MRT research shows that participation and program completion by minority groups can significantly lower long-term recidivism rates for more than 20 years after treatment. No other cognitive-behavioral treatment for offenders or substance abuse has shown such results.

All MRT groups must be operated by MRT-Certified facilitators, professional staff who have completed the 32-hour training program. Group facilitators use objective criteria to evaluate the participant’s successful completion of each of the program’s steps.

MRT information from CCI