Real-world use of the risk–need–responsivity model and the level of service/case management inventory with community-supervised offenders.

Abstract

The risk-need-responsivity model (RNR; Bonta & Andrews, 2017) has become a leading approach for effective offender case management, but field tests of this model are still required. The present study first assessed the predictive validity of the RNR-informed Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI; Andrews, Bonta, & Wormith, 2004) with a sample of Atlantic Canadian male and female community-supervised provincial offenders (N = 136). Next, the case management plans prepared from these LS/CMI results were analyzed for adherence to the principles of risk, need, and responsivity. As expected, the LS/CMI was a strong predictor of general recidivism for both males (area under the curve = .75, 95% confidence interval [.66, .85]), and especially females (area under the curve = .94, 95% confidence interval [.84, 1.00]), over an average 3.42-year follow-up period. The LS/CMI was predictive of time to recidivism, with lower risk cases taking longer to reoffend than higher risk cases. Despite the robust predictive validity of the LS/CMI, case management plans developed by probation officers generally reflected poor adherence to the RNR principles. These findings highlight the need for better training on how to transfer risk appraisal information from valid risk tools to case plans to better meet the best-practice principles of risk, need, and responsivity for criminal behavior risk reduction. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Impact of a Community Supervision Officer Training Program on Client Outcomes: A Propensity Score Modeling Analysis by Officer Training Dosage

“…The CCPs have evolved over time and include anticriminal modeling, effective reinforcement, effective disapproval, effective use of authority, structured learning, problem-solving, cognitive restructuring, and relationship skills (Gendreau et al, 2010). Although the use of these service delivery skills has been shown to be an effective strategy for reducing recidivism at the organizational level (Farringer et al, 2019;Lowenkamp et al, 2006;Matthews et al, 2001), research has also generally found poor adherence to the principles of effective intervention and CCPs among probation and parole officers in community corrections settings (Bonta et al, 2008;Dyck et al, 2018;Viglione, 2017;Viglione et al, 2015). For example, research finds while probation and parole officers conduct risk assessments, they often make more restrictive decisions than the results indicate (Miller & Maloney, 2013;Viglione et al, 2015), rarely use the assessment information to determine the frequency of supervision meetings, and often do not address criminogenic needs (Bonta et al, 2008;Viglione et al, 2015).…”

Progressing policy toward a risk/need informed sanctioning model

“…The results of this study indicated that officers rarely used information from a third generation RNA when case planning or interacting with their clients. Another study conducted by Dyck, Campbell, and Wershler (2018) on a sample of 136 individuals assessed by a fourth generation RNA found that risk and needs of individuals were implemented into case plans in less than 60% of cases.…”

Professional identity and emerging occupational therapy practice: An autoethnography

“…I drew on Housing First guidelines (Homeless Hub, 2018), interventions that target homelessness (Roy et al, 2017), harm reduction principles (Bierness, 2008;Boucher et al, 2017), recovery-oriented models (Farkas, 2007;Slade et al, 2014), and literature outlining the role of occupational therapy with people who are homeless (Marshall & Rosenberg, 2015;Thomas, Gray, & McGinty, 2011). Literature from other fields (e.g., criminology, sociology, and psychology) that focused on assessing the risk an imprisoned person may pose to a community and that described dynamic and static social and psychological precursors to crime (Dyck, Campbell, & Wershler, 2018;Taxman & Caudy, 2015;Wooditch, Tang, & Taxman, 2014) helped me understand how people who have been imprisoned are typically perceived as a risk to be managed.…”