Risk and Needs Assessments

1. Risk and Needs Assessments Presented by: Edward J. Latessa, Ph.D. School of Criminal Justice University of Cincinnati Edward.Latessa@uc.edu www.uc.edu/criminaljustice

2. Assessment is the engine that drives effective correctional programs • Need to meet the risk and need principle • Reduces bias • Aids decision making • Helps better utilize resources • Allows you to target dynamic risk factors and measure change

3. Risk Principle: “Who” to Target with Intensive Programs • Target those offender with higher probability of recidivism • Provide most intensive treatment to higher risk offenders • Intensive treatment for lower risk offender can increase recidivism

4. You do not know which person will re-offend. Do you treat all 10 the same to make sure no one is missed? Low Risk 1 out of 10 will re-offend $$$$$$$$$ Treatment and Supervision Resources

5. You do not know which person will re-offend. Do you treat all 10 the same to make sure no one is missed? High Risk 5 out of 10 will re-offend $$$$$$$$$ Treatment and Supervision Resources

6. The Risk Principle & Correctional Intervention Results from Meta Analysis Dowden & Andrews, 1999

7. The Need Principle: The “What” to Target Assess & targeting criminogenic needs for change Criminogenic needs are those risk factors that are correlated with criminal conduct and can change Non-Criminogenic needs are those needs that offenders have that are not strongly correlated with criminal conduct, but maybe barriers

8. Criminogenic Anti social attitudes Anti social friends Substance abuse Lack of empathy Impulsive behavior Lack of self-control Non-Criminogenic Housing Anxiety Low self esteem Creative abilities Medical needs Physical conditioning Need Principle

9. Major Set of Risk/Need Factors • Antisocial/pro-criminal attitudes, values, beliefs and cognitive emotional states • Pro-criminal associates and isolation from anticriminal others • Temperamental and anti social personality patterns conducive to criminal activity including: • Weak socialization • Impulsivity • Adventurous • Restless/aggressive • Egocentrism • A taste for risk • Weak problem-solving/self-regulation & coping skills 4. A history of antisocial behavior

10. Major Set of Risk/Need Factors Cont. • Familial factors that include criminality and a variety of psychological problems in the family of origin including Low levels of affection, caring, and cohesiveness • Low levels of personal, educational, vocational, or financial achievement • Low levels of involvement in prosocial leisure activities • Substance Abuse

11. To Understand Assessment it is Important to Understand Types of Risk Factors

12. Dynamic and Static Factors • Static Factors are those factors that are related to risk and do not change. Some examples might be number of prior offenses, whether an offender has ever had a drug/alcohol problem. • Dynamic factors relate to risk and can change. Some examples are whether an offender is currently unemployed or currently has a drug/alcohol problem.

13. According to the American Heart Association, there are a number of risk factors that increase your chances of a first heart attack • Family history of heart attacks • Gender (males) • Age (over 50) • Inactive lifestyle • Over weight • High blood pressure • Smoking • High Cholesterol level

14. There are two types of dynamic risk factors • Acute – Can change quickly • Stable – Take longer to change

15. Dynamic Risk Factors and Their Importance • Also called criminogenic needs • Changing these factors changes the probability of recidivism • Provide the basis for developing a treatment plan • Address factors that will reduce risk • Lead to public safety

16. Classification & Assessment of Offenders • Primary measures have been identified • Best predictors of criminal behavior: Static factors – past criminal behavior Dynamic factors – crime producing needs • Best assessment method is the actuarial (statistical) approach • Best practices allow for risk management and risk reduction through effective treatment • Latest generation of instruments allow for measurement of change in offender

17. Some Examples of Assessment Tools

20. Wisconsin Risk & Need Assessment

21. Psychopathy Checklist (Hare Psychopathy) • Glib/superficial charm • Grandiose sense of self • Stimulation seeking • Pathological lying • Conning/manipulation • Lack of remorse/guilt • Shallow affect • Callousness/lack empathy • Parasitic lifestyle • Poor behavioral control • Promiscuous sexual behavior • Early behavioral problems • Lack of realistic goals • Impulsivity • Irresponsibility • Not accepting responsibility • Many marital relationships • Juvenile delinquency • Conditional release revoked • Criminal versatility

22. One New Non-Proprietary System is the ORAS • The Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS) consists of several instruments: • Pretrial • Community Supervision (plus screener) • Prison Intake • Reentry

23. ORAS-CST Intake Assessment

24. Finalized Report VH High Med Low • Barriers to Service • Low motivation to obtain employment • Transportation—No valid license • Mental Health—Needs evaluation High

25. Applying the Risk and Responsivity Principles • High Contact Frequency • More intensive interventions • More targets for change • Minimize exposure to low risk Use cost-benefit tools Set long-term goal(s) Motivational Interviewing strategies Help problem solve transportation Make referral/appointment to MH evaluation—making sure plan addresses transportation • Barriers to Services • Low motivation to change substance abuse behavior • Transportation—No valid license • Mental Health—Needs evaluation

26. Applying the Need Principle Disrupt criminal peer networks Increase prosocial contacts Employment readiness – Target attitudes that support employment Target attitudes towards driving w/o license What To Avoid Disrupting/Targeting Minimize conditions associated with these areas Monitor for compliance only Do Not Target with any Treatment Interventions unless circumstances change Increase prosocial attitudes Target Problem Solving Decrease attitudes supporting aggressiveness

27. Reliability is Very Important • Are staff consistent in scoring? • Inter-rater reliability • Training • Experience

29. Predictive Validity of the LSI-R & Assessor Experience with the Instrument

30. Some things to consider • What do I want to use it for? • Length of time needed to complete • Training • Cost • Complexity • When will it be done? • Where will it be done? • Who will do it? • Level of staff commitment • Is assessment reliable? • Is assessment valid?

31. Build in Policies Around Professional Discretion • Also known as the override principle • Consider all the information and determine if placements dictated by assessment are the most appropriate • Generally should not exceed 10%.

32. Some things to remember • There is no “one size fits all” assessment tool • some domains or types of offenders will require specialized assessments (such as sex offenders) • use or purpose will vary • Actuarial assessment is more accurate than clinical assessment, but no process is perfect • Assessment helps guide decisions, doesn’t make them --professional discretion is part of good assessment • Reliability is more difficult to achieve with dynamic instruments – requires training of staff and continual monitoring of assessment process