Risk-Need-Responsivity Research Articles

Matching Services to Criminogenic Needs Following Comprehensive Risk Assessment Implementation in Juvenile Probation

One emphasis of juvenile justice reform has been implementation of risk assessment instruments to improve case planning. This study examined the ability of juvenile probation departments to apply the risk-needs-responsivity (RNR) framework into case planning following a comprehensive implementation protocol. Data were collected on 385 adolescent offenders across three probation departments following implementation of the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk for Youth (SAVRY) and an RNR-related case planning policy. As expected, as risk levels of youth increased, probation departments assigned more services and addressed more criminogenic need areas in their case plans. Most case plans (86%) adhered to the policy to limit the number of needs addressed at one time. The quality of service-to-need matching varied by criminogenic need area, risk level, and site. Implications to juvenile courts’ and probation officers’ case planning and the challenges of research on service-to-need matching are discussed.

Offender Risk Assessment Practices Vary across Canada

The dominant Canadian approach to offender rehabilitation, the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model, requires assessing offenders' likelihood of recidivism and their criminogenic needs (i.e., risk/need assessments). The current study examines the risk/need assessments routinely used in Canadian corrections and compares their risk category labels. All Canadian jurisdictions used a risk/need tool for general recidivism, most used sex-crime-specific tools, and a few used tools specific to intimate partner violence. There was, however, considerable diversity in the names, number, and meaning of the risk category labels, which could result in different responses to the same individual based solely on the version of the risk tool used in any specific jurisdiction. Our results suggest that increased attention to the meaning of risk category labels could facilitate offenders receiving the most appropriate and fair correctional responses.

Relationships Between Treatment Delivery, Program Attrition, and Reoffending Outcomes in an Intensive Custodial Sex Offender Program.

Retention of sex offenders to the completion of treatment is critical to program adherence to risk need responsivity (RNR) principles; however, it is also important to consider the potential interaction between attrition and treatment outcomes such as reoffending. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of changes to treatment delivery in a residential sex offender treatment program (SOTP), including introduction of rolling groups and systematic emphasis on positive therapist characteristics, on likelihood of program noncompletion ( n = 652). Pooled regression modeling indicated that these operational interventions were associated with a significantly increased likelihood of program completion. We also examined whether variance in rates of participant attrition was related to reoffending outcomes for program completers ( n = 494). Incidence of attrition within completing participants' treatment cohorts had a significant negative association with hazard of sexual reoffending that was not accounted for by pretreatment risk. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for treatment delivery processes that aim to optimize both participant retention and treatment effectiveness.

Comparing the Central Eight Risk Factors: Do They Differ Across Age Groups of Sex Offenders?

Following the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model, cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered most effective in reducing recidivism when based on dynamic risk factors. As studies have found differences of these factors across age, exploring this seems beneficial. The current study investigates the Central Eight (C8) risk factors across six age groups of outpatient sex offenders ( N = 650). Results showed that recidivism rates and age were inversely related from 19 years and up. Half of the C8 did not predict general recidivism at all, substance abuse, antisocial cognition, antisocial associates, and history of antisocial behavior in only one or several age groups. However, factors differed between age groups, with the youngest group demonstrating the most dysfunction in several areas and the oldest group the least. It is concluded that the C8 risk factors seem to lose significance in the older age groups. Results may benefit targeting treatment goals.

Validation of the Ceredigion Youth Screening Tool.

Evidence suggests that only a small minority of youth offenders will continue their behaviour in the longer term and largely independent of any interventions they may receive (Bateman, 2011; Haines & Case, 2015). Hence, "screening out" this larger low-risk cohort could have a positive impact upon the individual through a reduction in stigmatisation/labelling and free up resources for higher risk clients. This article outlines development of the Ceredigion Youth Screening Tool (CYSTEM)-developed and tested to address the two facets of criminality and vulnerability-closely aligned to the eight key risk indicators identified in the Risk-Needs-Responsivity (R-N-R) literature (Andrews & Bonta, 2010). Initial results with two cohorts of 372 young people indicate good convergent and discriminative validity in screening out the lowest level referrals, while also identifying 90% of potential future offenders. More importantly, CYSTEM is able to screen out approximately 35% of the low-risk offenders that are unlikely to require formal evaluation and/or intervention. It is suggested that the streamlining of this process using CYSTEM reduces demand on staff time and decreases the stigmatisation of young people referred for minor offences. Potential improvements to the tool and future developments in statistical risk prediction are also discussed.

Multisystemic Therapy and Functional Family Therapy Compared on their Effectiveness Using the Propensity Score Method

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Functional Family Therapy (FFT) have overlapping target populations and treatment goals. In this study, these interventions were compared on their effectiveness using a quasi-experimental design. Between October, 2009 and June, 2014, outcome data were collected from 697 adolescents (mean age 15.3 (SD 1.48), 61.9% male) assigned to either MST or FFT (422 MST; 275 FFT). Data were gathered during Routine Outcome Monitoring. The primary outcome was externalizing problem behavior (Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self Report). Secondary outcomes were the proportion of adolescents living at home, engaged in school or work, and who lacked police contact during treatment. Because of the non-random assignment, a propensity score method was used to control for observed pre-treatment differences. Because the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model guided treatment assignment, effectiveness was also estimated in youth with and without a court order as an indicator of their risk level. Looking at the whole sample, no difference in effect was found with regard to externalizing problems. For adolescents without a court order, effects on externalizing problems were larger after MST. Because many more adolescents with a court order were assigned to MST compared to FFT, the propensity score method could not balance the treatment groups in this subsample. In conclusion, few differences between MST and FFT were found. In line with the RNR model, higher risk adolescents were assigned to the more intensive treatment, namely MST. In the group with lower risk adolescents, this more intensive treatment was more effective in reducing externalizing problems.

Risk-need-responsivity model: Contrasting criminogenic and noncriminogenic needs in high and low risk juvenile offenders

The Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) offender rehabilitation model contends high risk offenders benefit more from intervention programs than low risk offenders (risk principle), and interventions are more effective if they target criminogenic needs (need principle) and engage offenders. A field study was undertaken in order to assess the relation between the risk of recidivism (high and low) and criminogenic and noncriminogenic needs in juvenile offenders. 101 juvenile offenders classified as either of high or low recidivism risk on the Youth level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) were evaluated in terms of school failure, behavioural disorders, psychological adjustment, and social skills. The results showed higher rates of school failure and behavioural disorders (criminogenic needs) in high risk than in low risk juvenile offenders, and higher rates in low risk offenders than in the general population. As for psychological adjustment and social skills (noncriminogenic needs), the results revealed higher deficits in high risk than in low risk juvenile offenders, and no differences between low risk offenders and the general population. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.

Effectiveness of a risk–need–responsivity‐based treatment program for violent and sexual offenders: Results of a retrospective, quasi‐experimental study

PurposeRelapse prevention is an important goal in correctional settings. Although there is strong evidence for the effectiveness of certain treatment programs for juvenile offenders, those for adults lack such evidence. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a risk–need–responsivity (RNR)‐based intervention.MethodsA quasi‐experimental, observational study design and cox regression analysis were used to compare treated violent and sexual offenders (n = 171) with untreated offenders (n = 241).ResultsBoth groups were observed for an average of 7.9 years. Recidivism rates of treated offenders (11.7%, n = 20) were similar to those of control offenders (15.8%, n = 38; p = .25). When controlling for confounding variables, the hazard of recidivism in the treatment group was 5.2% lower than that in the control group. Subdividing the treatment group resulted in lower hazard ratios for offenders still in therapy when released and offenders cancelling therapy. However, none of the group differences was statistically significant.ConclusionOur results show that control and RNR‐based treatment groups had comparable recidivism rates with a trend towards a positive treatment effect, especially for people in outpatient treatment. However, criminal history, age at the start of follow‐up, and actuarial risk of recidivism were significantly associated with recidivism. Future research needs to apply elaborate methodological approaches to detect robust treatment effects and consider different criteria of treatment effectiveness. Furthermore, the influence of prison climate, motivational factors, intervention quality, and factors supporting the success of outpatient treatment should be considered in future studies of larger offender samples.

The Good Lives Model among detained female adolescents

Abstract Female adolescents constitute a very vulnerable and challenging, yet understudied, minority within the criminal justice system. Up to now, problem-oriented risk management approaches, such as the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model, are still the most widely used rehabilitation frameworks. More recently, strength-based rehabilitation frameworks, such as the Good Lives Model (GLM), have received increased attention in guiding treatment of detained female adolescents. In the current paper, we explore the relevance and applicability of the GLM in the particular population of detained female adolescents, based on a critical reflection on the theoretical, empirical and clinical evidence available in the scientific literature. First, we argue that the GLM can help to overcome the RNR model's ethical, etiological and clinical limitations, thereby improving rehabilitation theory and effective practice for detained female adolescents. Second, we believe this model, given its holistic and person-centred approach, can be easily extended to this population, however not without taking into account particular developmental and gender issues. Third, we believe the GLM, as a rehabilitation framework, can easily “wrap around” existing evidence-based treatment programs for detained female adolescents, which, overall, are recommended to include a multidimensional, systemic and gender-responsive component. In addition, we think that the different phases of GLM-informed rehabilitation can be easily applied to this particular population. Finally, the application of the GLM among detained female adolescents entails some important research-related, practice-related and normative challenges.

Evidence-based treatment and supervision practices for co-occurring mental and substance use disorders in the criminal justice system

ABSTRACTBackground: Over seven million persons in the United States are supervised by the criminal justice system, including many who have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders (CODs). This population is at high risk for recidivism and presents numerous challenges to those working in the justice system. Objectives: To provide a contemporary review of the existing research and examine key issues and evidence-based treatment and supervision practices related to CODs in the justice system. Methods: We reviewed COD research involving offenders that has been conducted over the past 20 years and provide an analysis of key findings. Results: Several empirically supported frameworks are available to guide services for offenders who have CODs, including Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT), the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Evidence-based services include integrated assessment that addresses both sets of disorders and the risk for criminal recidivism. Although several evidence-based COD interventions have been implemented at different points in the justice system, there remains a significant gap in services for offenders who have CODs. Existing program models include Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT), day reporting centers, specialized community supervision teams, pre- and post-booking diversion programs, and treatment-based courts (e.g., drug courts, mental health courts, COD dockets). Jail-based COD treatment programs provide stabilization of acute symptoms, medication consultation, and triage to community services, while longer-term prison COD programs feature Modified Therapeutic Communities (MTCs). Conclusion: Despite the availability of multiple evidence-based interventions that have been implemented across diverse justice system settings, these services are not sufficiently used to address the scope of treatment and supervision needs among offenders with CODs.

Criminogenic Needs, Substance Use, and Offending among Rural Stimulant Users.

There is a need to understand the determinants of both substance use and criminal activity in rural areas in order to design appropriate treatment interventions for these linked problems. The present study drew on a predominant model used to assess and treat offenders -- the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model -- to examine risk factors for substance use and criminal activity in a rural drug using sample. This study extends the RNR model's focus on offenders to assessing rural-dwelling individuals using stimulants (N=462). We examined substance use and criminal justice outcomes at 6-month (91%) and 3-year (79%) follow-ups, and used Generalized Estimating Equations to examine the extent to which RNR criminogenic need factors at baseline predicted outcomes at follow-ups. Substance use and criminal justice outcomes improved at six months, and even more at three years, post-baseline. As expected, higher risk was associated with poorer outcomes. Antisocial personality patterns and procriminal attitudes at baseline predicted poorer legal and drug outcomes measured at subsequent follow-ups. In contrast, less connection to antisocial others and fewer work difficulties predicted lower alcohol problem severity, but more frequent alcohol use. Engagement in social-recreational activities was associated with fewer subsequent arrests and less severe alcohol and drug problems. The RNR model's criminogenic need factors predicted drug use and crime-related outcomes among rural residents. Services adapted to rural settings that target these factors, such as telehealth and other technology-based resources, may hasten improvement on both types of outcomes among drug users.

The role of mental health and specific responsivity in juvenile justice rehabilitation.

Understanding the role that mental health issues play in justice-involved youth poses challenges for research, policy, and practice. While mental health problems are generally not risk factors for criminal behavior according to the risk-needs-responsivity (RNR) framework of correctional psychology practice, prevalence rates are very high and RNR principles suggest that mental health as a responsivity variable may moderate the success of interventions targeted to criminogenic needs. In this study we investigated the relationships among mental health status, criminogenic needs treatment, and recidivism in a sample of 232 youth referred for court-ordered assessments and followed through their community supervision sentence (probation). Youth with mental health needs were no more likely than youth without these needs to reoffend, regardless of whether those needs were treated. Youth who received mental health treatment also more frequently had their criminogenic needs matched across several domains, suggesting an association between mental health treatment and intermediate treatment targets. However, mental health did not moderate the effect of criminogenic needs treatment: youth who had a greater proportion of criminogenic needs targeted through appropriate services were less likely to reoffend, regardless of mental health status. Findings are consistent with the RNR stance that, within a correctional context in which the primary goal of intervention is preventing recidivism, treatment for mental health needs should be in addition to criminogenic needs treatment, not in replacement of it. They also point to the need for continued research to understand precisely how mental health treatment interacts with intervention targeting criminogenic needs. (PsycINFO Database Record

The Availability and Utility of Services to Address Risk Factors for Recidivism among Justice-Involved Veterans.

The availability and utility of services to address recidivism risk factors among justice-involved veterans is unknown. We explored these issues through qualitative interviews with 63 Specialists from the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veterans Justice Programs. To guide the interviews, we utilized the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model of offender rehabilitation. Specialists reported that justice-involved veterans generally have access to services to address most RNR-based risk factors (substance abuse; lack of positive school/work involvement; family/marital dysfunction; lack of prosocial activities/interests), but have less access to services targeting risk factors of antisocial tendencies and associates and empirically-based treatments for recidivism in VA. Peer-based services, motivational interviewing/cognitive-behavioral therapy, and Veterans Treatment Courts were perceived as useful to address multiple risk factors. These findings highlight potential gaps in provision of evidence-based care to address recidivism among justice-involved veterans, as well as promising policy-based solutions that may have widespread impact on reducing recidivism in this population.

Incorporating the Jesness Inventory-Revised (JI-R) in a Best-Practice Model of Juvenile Delinquency Assessments

ABSTRACTThis article examines use of the Jesness Inventory-Revised (JI-R) in the juvenile delinquency assessment context. The JI-R was identified by Hoge and Andrews (2010) among several standardized personality tests that are useful as part of a best-practice comprehensive juvenile forensic assessment. The JI-R is particularly relevant in forensic contexts with respect to identifying personality characteristics associated with juvenile delinquency. It is proposed that the JI-R can be integrated into the contemporary risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model of correctional assessment and rehabilitative programming and its application for juvenile delinquents. Studies suggest that the Jesness Inventory may identify an antisocial orientation dimension associated with dynamic risk-need factors in youths that influence criminal or delinquent behavior and that can be targeted for intervention. The JI-R also assesses internalizing psychological problems that may identify responsivity factors relevant for disposition and treatment planning in forensic contexts. This article identifies some technical limitations of the JI-R, including the issue of item overlap. The questionable effectiveness of this instrument in detecting response bias, especially underreporting, is also considered. Directions for future research are suggested.

Les principes d’une prévention de la récidive efficace : le modèle Risque-Besoins-Réceptivité

Recidivism prevention remains a crucial issue in France. While meta-analyses clearly indicated the effectiveness of the Risk-Need-Responsivity (R-N-R) model for assessment and rehabilitation, this model is not used in French probation services. The aim of this article is to introduce the R-N-R model, through an emphasis on its three main principles. A necessary continuity from assessment to intervention is highlighted. The article concludes by stressing the need to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of intervention to prevent recidivism.

Applicability of the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model to Persons With Mental Illness Involved in the Criminal Justice System.

National efforts to improve responses to persons with mental illness involved with the criminal justice system have traditionally focused on providing mental health services under court supervision. However, a new policy emphasis has emerged that focuses on providing correctional treatment services consistent with the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model to reduce recidivism. The objective of this review was to evaluate empirical support for following the RNR model (developed with general offenders) with this group and to pose major questions that the field needs to address. A comprehensive search using PubMed and PsycINFO yielded 18 studies that addressed the applicability of the RNR model to the target population. The results of these studies were synthesized. There is strong support for using general risk assessment tools to assess this group's risk of recidivism. Preliminary evidence indicates that cognitive-behavioral programs targeting general risk factors are more effective than psychiatric treatment alone. However, there is as yet no direct support for the applicability of the three core RNR principles to treat this population. Although the new policy emphasis shows substantial promise, the field must avoid rushing to the next "evidence base" too rapidly and with too little data. There must be explicit recognition that RNR principles are being applied to a new population with unique characteristics (mental illness combined with justice system involvement), such that generalizability from general offender samples is uncertain. Moreover, public safety goals for the target population should not eclipse those related to public health. This group's unique features may affect both the process and outcomes of treatment.

Sailing uncharted seas without a compass: A review of interventions in forensic mental health

Abstract Mentally disordered offenders (MDOs) represent a complex and diverse population who are often regarded as difficult to treat. Accordingly, the practitioners who are tasked with their reintegration face many challenges which are compounded by a paucity of published research on interventions with MDOs and a lack of comprehensive rehabilitation models to orient their practice. This article provides an overview of published literature on interventions used in inpatient forensic mental health services over the past 15 years. The literature is categorized according to its broad theoretical orientation and three approaches are identified: (1) Treatments targeting mental illness and other psychological issues; (2) Interventions based on the principles of the Risk–Need–Responsivity (RNR) model that aim to reduce recidivism; and (3) Strength-based models. The literature review highlights a practice of blending divergent models in an attempt to cater to the wide-ranging needs of forensic patients. It is asserted that this practice, which is problematic for a number of reasons, is underpinned by an absence of overarching rehabilitation frameworks to integrate the multiple elements of forensic practice. It is proposed that the Good Lives Model of offender rehabilitation, when adapted for use in a forensic context, may provide a promising way forward.

Gender, ethnicity and race in incarcerated and detained youth: services and policy implications for girls.

While work has been conducted on gender differences to inform gender-specific programming, relatively little work has been done regarding racial and ethnic differences among incarcerated and detained girls in particular. This is an important gap, considering gender, race, and ethnicity may be important factors in responding to the needs of incarcerated and detained girls within the Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) model. We hypothesize girls will show relatively more pathology than boys, and that White girls will show relatively more pathology as compared to girls of other groups. Implications of findings for services delivery and policy are presented. Data were collected on N = 657 youth using structured interview and record review. Analyses included χ2 and t tests. As compared to boys, girls were older at first arrest yet younger during most lock-up, received poorer grades, experienced more family difficulty, and more were lesbian/bisexual. As compared to minority girls, White girls began hard drugs at a younger age, had more conduct disorder symptoms, and more frequently experienced parental difficulty and abuse. Age-appropriate programming that addresses family difficulty and sexuality is needed for girls. As compared to White girls, reentry planning may more readily rely on family support for minority girls. Systems should consider use of actuarial methods in order to reduce bias in making placement decisions. (PsycINFO Database Record

Detection of Dynamic Risk Factors and Correctional Practice

Taxman and Caudy (2015, this issue) argue for the utility of basing correctional interventions on individual need profiles as opposed to levels of reoffending risk and lists of risk dynamic factors. Although they acknowledge the value of the risk‐ need‐responsivity (RNR) framework in guiding offender classification and subsequent correctional interventions, the inability of the RNR model to bridge the theory-practice gap is recognized as a major weakness. The problem is that offenders vary in terms of their psychological and social problems, and this variability is often overlooked by correctional jurisdictions that use the RNR to construct policy and programs for offenders. In other words, the RNR is too blunt an instrument to reflect adequately the real-world experiences and treatment needs of individual offenders—treatment needs that span both programs and case management. Taxman and Caudy’s (2015) response to the problem of offender need heterogeneity is to search for clusters of dynamic risk factors they label “criminogenic needs” and “lifestyle destabilizers.” They believe that the best way to reduce recidivism rates is by developing a more fine-grained understanding of risk profiles and to use the subsequent grouping of offenders to determine the type and duration of intervention packages. To achieve this end, latent class analysis (LCA) was used to detect groups of offenders (from a sample of 17,252 offenders on probation) with similar clusters of needs and lifestyle destabilizers using a risk-assessment scale and measures of 11 classes of dynamic risk factors, including substance abuse, low self-control, antisocial peers, antisocial values, employment education, and family support. The employment of this statistical technique resulted in four groups: class 1—moderate needs with high destabilizers, class 2—low need with few destabilizers,

Evidence for risk estimate precision: implications for individual risk communication.

Actuarial risk assessment instruments using well-established predictor variables measured at the individual level (e.g., age, criminal history, psychopathy) discriminate well between recidivists and non-recidivists across diverse samples. Data indicating the relative risk of recidivism can inform policy decisions about allocating resources according to risk within a correctional system, consistent with the first of the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) principles. Evidence for the precision of absolute risk as applied to an individual based on scores from many samples, however, has proven challenging. In this paper, we present a study examining the association of actuarial risk estimate precision with sample size using the Post Conviction Risk Assessment (PCRA; Lowenkamp et al., 2013), in samples of up to 26,642 offenders. Results indicate that the precision of individual estimates can be demonstrated with sufficient sample size. We believe that the implications of absolute risk for the communication of an individual offender's risks have been poorly understood. We argue that the purpose of individual-level risk communication is to ensure the effective application of policy, which requires matching a new case to aggregate data. We illustrate how an offender's risk might thus be communicated, and conclude that this function is distinct from management of an individual's criminogenic needs and identification of effective and suitable treatments.