The Historical Roots, Current Status, and Future Applications of the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model (RNR)

Abstract

The risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model of correctional intervention is widely used around the world to guide offender assessment and intervention by correctional practitioners and agencies. Its core tenants (RNR) direct who should be targeted (moderate- and high-risk offenders), what should be targeted (each offender’s criminogenic needs), and how they should be targeted (cognitive-behavioral intervention, with sensitivity to the personal characteristics of the individual that would render him or her more receptive to certain kinds of approaches to intervention). A more comprehensive but often overlooked version of RNR includes overarching principles (e.g., have respect for the client and use theoretically based interventions), structured assessment principles (e.g., use objective risk-need assessment and consider offender strengths), service delivery principles (e.g., have relationship skills and practice prosocial modeling), and organizational principles (e.g., maintain continuity of service and have strong ties to the general community). For the most part, criticisms of RNR have neglected these lesser known principles, as evidenced by some initiatives that have updated RNR by including principles that are not unlike those described in the extended version of RNR, such as adding protective factors and organizational responsivity. Although RNR has strong empirical support, as illustrated in a number of meta-analyses summarized in this chapter, its implementation has not been without difficulty, particularly in large correctional agencies where over-manualization has resulted in a less effective product. Nonetheless, with skilled training of service providers, innovative approaches to working with offenders (e.g., the Strategic Training Initiative in Community Supervision; STICS), and thorough research on service delivery and client outcome, the prospects for RNR look bright.