Offender Assessment Utilizing the RiskNeed Responsivity Model A

Offender Assessment Utilizing the Risk-Need. Responsivity Model A web presentation for RSAT - T&TA by Roberta C. Churchill -ACJS

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION � This presentation builds upon the last two sessions on Assessments and Screening. � It will review three of the Principles of Effective Intervention – Risk, Need and Responsivity – and their importance in offender assessment, treatment / case planning and provision of treatment. � There will also be a brief look at the history of offender assessment as well as an overview of 4 th Generation RNR Assessment Instruments.

Screening ◦ Short; used with every offender in an intake-type setting ◦ Identifies offenders who might have the characteristic in question (e. g. , mental health problem, substance abuse problem) ◦ Helps “triage” offenders for immediate attention ◦ Help decide need for a more comprehensive assessment ◦ Usually requires little to no training to administer

Assessment ◦ Longer and more comprehensive; results give a multi-dimensional perspective of the offender ◦ Helps to develop specific recommendations for treatment and case planning ◦ Identifies needs that may require specialized services and/or community based referrals for reentry planning ◦ Usually requires training to administer and interpret the results

RISK NEED RESPONSIVITY

RISK � How likely a person is to engage in criminal behaviors

NEED � What areas in a person’s life should be targeted for intervention / supervision in order to decrease their likelihood of future criminal behavior

RESPONSIVITY � What personal strengths and/or specific individual factors might influence the effectiveness of treatment services

Risk Principle • Match level of services to level of risk

Risk Principle • Match level of services to level of risk • Prioritize supervision and treatment resources for higher risk clients

Risk Principle • Match level of services to level of risk • Prioritize supervision and treatment resources for higher risk clients • Higher risk clients need more intensive services

Risk Principle • Match level of services to level of risk • Prioritize supervision and treatment resources for higher risk clients • Higher risk clients need more intensive services • Low risk clients require little to no intervention

Risk Principle • Match level of services to level of risk • Prioritize supervision and treatment resources for higher risk clients • Higher risk clients need more intensive services • Low risk clients require little to no intervention • “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

Patterns in Risk Level & Tx Intensity Offender RISK LEVEL % Recidivism: Tx BY RISK LEVEL Impact on RECIDIVISM Authors of Study O’Donnell et al. , 1971 Minimum Intensive Low Risk 16% 22% ( 6%) High Risk 78% 56% ( 22%) Low Risk 3% 10% ( 7%) High Risk 37% 18% ( 19%) Low Risk 12% 17% ( 5%) High Risk 58% 31% ( 27%) Low Risk 12% 29% ( 17%) High Risk 92% 25% ( 67%) Baird et al. , 1979 Andrews & Kiessling, 1980 Andrews & Friesen, 1987 • Some studies combined intensive Tx with supervision or other services 14 Compiled from: Andrews, D. A. , Bonta, J. , Hoge, R. D. (1990). Classification for Effective Rehabilitation: Rediscovering Psychology. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 17: 19.

Bonta, J et al. , 2000. A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of an Intensive Rehabilitation Supervision Program. , Vol. 27 No 3: 312 -329. Criminal Justice and Behavior Recent Study of Intensive Rehabilitation Supervision in Canada Bonta, J. et al, 2000. A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of an Intensive Rehabilitation Supervision Program. Vol. 27 No 3: 317 – 329. Criminal Justice and Behavior

Triage: Cutting the “Tail” Off One End of Your Caseload Low Risk Offender – has more favorable pro-social thinking and behavior than other risk levels. Divert to voluntary programming, work units, early release / parole. 16

Risk Principle tells us WHO to target … … so now what do we DO? DO

Need Principle • Assess criminogenic needs and target those needs with treatment and interventions

Criminogenic ? ?

Criminogenic Needs • Dynamic or “changeable” risk factors that contribute to the likelihood that someone will commit a crime.

Criminogenic Needs • Dynamic or “changeable” risk factors that contribute to the likelihood that someone will commit a crime. • Changes in these needs / risk factors are associated with changes in recidivism.

“People involved in the justice system have many needs deserving treatment, but not all of these needs are associated with criminal behavior. ” - Andrews & Bonta (2006)

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. Anti-social Attitudes

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. 2. Anti-social Attitudes Anti-social Peers

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. 2. 3. Anti-social Attitudes Anti-social Peers Anti-social Personality Pattern

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. 2. 3. 4. Anti-social Attitudes Anti-social Peers Anti-social Personality Pattern History of Anti-Social Behavior

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. 2. 3. 4. Anti-social Attitudes Anti-social Peers Anti-social Personality Pattern History of Anti-Social Behavior These are knows as the “Big Four” Risk Factors Most highly correlated with criminal behavior among all other factors

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. 2. 3. 4. Anti-social Attitudes Anti-social Peers Anti-social Personality Pattern History of Anti-Social Behavior criminogenic) (non- These are knows as the “Big Four” Risk Factors Most highly correlated with criminal behavior among all other factors

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Anti-social Attitudes Anti-social Peers Anti-social Personality Pattern History of Anti-Social Behavior Family / Marital Factors

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Anti-social Attitudes Anti-social Peers Anti-social Personality Pattern History of Anti-Social Behavior Family / Marital Factors Lack of Achievement in Education / Employment

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Anti-social Attitudes Anti-social Peers Anti-social Personality Pattern History of Anti-Social Behavior Family / Marital Factors Lack of Achievement in Education / Employment Lack of Pro-social Leisure Activities

Central Eight Risk Factors 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Anti-social Attitudes Anti-social Peers Anti-social Personality Pattern History of Anti-Social Behavior Family / Marital Factors Lack of Achievement in Education / Employment Lack of Pro-social Leisure Activities Substance Abuse

Non-Criminogenic Needs � Self-esteem � Anxiety � Lack of parenting skills � Medical needs � Victimization issues � Learning disability

Although NOT criminogenic risk factors, they are important to include in an effective RNR assessment. WHY?

Obtaining Information About Non-Criminogenic Needs may need to be addressed before or concurrently along with criminogenic needs in treatment since they may represent a barrier to effective participation in treatment otherwise. � They

Obtaining Information About Non-Criminogenic Needs may need to be addressed before or concurrently along with criminogenic needs in treatment since they may represent a barrier to effective participation in treatment otherwise. � IT’S THE HUMANE THING TO DO. � They

Let’s Recap … A RNR Assessment identifies offender risk level High Risk offenders need MORE treatment and supervision to DECREASE their likelihood of recidivism Low Risk offenders need LESS treatment and supervision to DECREASE their likelihood of recidivism

A RNR Assessment identifies offender risk level AND obtains information about criminogenic need areas High Risk offenders need MORE treatment and supervision to DECREASE their likelihood of recidivism 1. 2. 3. 4. Anti-Social Attitudes Anti-Social Peers Anti-Social Personality Pattern History of Anti-Social Behavior Low Risk offenders need LESS treatment and supervision to DECREASE their likelihood of recidivism 5. Family / Marital Issues 6. Lack of Achievement in Education and Employment 7. Lack of Pro-social Leisure Activity 8. Substance Abuse

Risk Principle tells us WHO to target … Need Principle tells us WHAT to target … … so now HOW do we do it?

Responsivity Principle • Identify offender strengths as they can be considered “protective” factors that may be built upon in treatment planning • Computer skills • Strong family relationships • High educational level • History of stable employment • Strong ties to recovering community

Responsivity Principle • Identify specific individual factors that might influence the effectiveness of treatment services • Anxiety • ADHD • Motivation Level • Gender • Reading Level / ESL • Language

How important is this really?

Adherence to Risk, Need, General Responsivity by Setting: Community Based versus Residential Programs Recidivism Decrease Increase # of Principles Adhered to in Treatment Source: Adopted from Andrews and Bonta (2006). The Psychology of Criminal Conduct (4 th). Newark: Lexis. Nexis.

What did we do before? A Brief History of Assessments

First Generation � Based on Professional Judgment ◦ Unreliable, inaccurate ◦ Not helpful for case management

Second Generation � Better at predicting risk than First Generation � Based on historical / static items � Unable to show change post-treatment

Third Generation � Assessed offender needs as well as risk level � Included dynamic / changeable items � Theoretically based � Capable of re-assessment

Fourth Generation � Include identification of offender strengths � Assess offender responsivity factors � Include particular non-criminogenic needs � Stress the integration of assessment results into treatment / case planning, review and interventions

When choosing a RNR Assessment Instrument, make sure: � It actually DOES assess risk level, identify criminogenic needs and specific responsivity factors � Has a user’s / scoring manual and offers training in the administration and interpretation of results � Is normed on the population it is being administered, and preferably in the same setting

When choosing a RNR Assessment Instrument, make sure: � It is “user-friendly” � Permits re-assessment to show change � Demonstrates inter-rater reliability: two different staff members would score the same offender reaching the same / similar scores � Is valid for all offender types regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, offense type, state, region or country

It All Starts with the Assessment DE CR Valid, Reliable RNR Assessment Public Safety is Ensured * Cost Efficient EA SE DR Treatment Plan EC IDI * VIS M Appropriate Placement and Services Re-Assessment * near end of Review & Revise treatment cycle Informed Re-Entry / Reintegration Plan

Most Commonly Used 4 th Generation Risk / Need / Responsivity Assessment Instruments Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) Static Risk and Offender Needs Guide (STRONG) Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS) Level of Service / Risk, Need, Responsivity (LS/RNR) Level of Service / Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) Youth Level of Service / Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI)

Thank You! This project was supported by grant No. 2010 -RT-BXK 001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the SMART Office, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Point of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice.

Date: June 15, 2011, 2: 00 PM EST Presenter: Fred Zackon Title of Presentation: Core Recovery Goals for RSAT Programming � Description: This webinar aims to help RSAT staff sharpen their clinical focus on particularly important treatment goals. We will draw distinctions between broad objectives (e. g. , “begin a strong recovery, ” “learn to be drug-free”) and specific and measurable goals that represent foundational achievements of sustainable recovery and that can be well targeted by evidence -based approaches.