Risk Of Reoffending Research Articles

Intimate Partner Violence in Same-Sex Relationships: An Analysis of Risk and Rearrest

Research on intimate partner violence (IPV) among same-sex couples remains relatively rare. Moreover, few studies examine risk and the likelihood of reoffending among such couples. The present study utilized a large sample of people ( N = 6,711) arrested for IPV to explore the risk, likelihood, and timing of reoffending, including 332 perpetrators in same-sex relationships. Analyses revealed that male perpetrators in same-sex relationships had lower assessed risk than males in heterosexual relationships, and a smaller percentage were rearrested for a new violent offense. Although female perpetrators in same-sex relationships were no more likely to have higher assessed risk compared with perpetrators of female to male violence, female perpetrators in same-sex relationships had a higher likelihood and rate of reoffending, more closely resembling male-to-female violence. Female perpetrators with male victims were identified as the lowest risk to reoffend and indeed were the least likely to reoffend.

Professional reports for sentencing courts: recommendations for reporting on child exploitation material offenders’ risk of recidivism and prospects for rehabilitation

Denunciation and general deterrence are major objectives of sentencing those who are convicted of possessing or distributing child exploitation material in Australia (CEM offenders), but courts also strive to achieve specific deterrence. To this end, courts tend to rely on professional reports as evidence of risk of reoffending and prospects for rehabilitation. After outlining matters that courts consider when sentencing CEM offenders, we discuss key empirical findings concerning CEM offenders’ risk of recidivism, and then evaluate two approaches for assessing this risk: actuarial assessments; and structured professional judgment. We recommend that professional reports prepared for sentencing reflect current research findings regarding risk of recidivism amongst CEM offenders and that the structured professional judgment approach is used. We also recommend that matters which inform offenders’ risk of recidivism and their prospects for rehabilitation be reported separately.

Best care options for older prisoners with dementia: a scoping review

The prisoner population is ageing, and consideration is needed for how to best support those with age-related health conditions in the system. Existing work practices and organizational structures often fail to meet the needs of prisoners with dementia, and prison staff experience high levels of burden because of the increased needs of these prisoners. Little is known about the best method of responding to the needs of this growing subpopulation of prisoners. A scoping review was conducted to answer the question: what are the perceived best care options for prisoners with dementia? To be included, publications had to be publicly available, reported on research findings, or viewed opinions and commentaries on care practices relevant to older prisoners with dementia. Searches were conducted in 11 databases to identify relevant publications. Data from the included publications were extracted and summarized into themes. Eight themes were identified that could support better care practices for prisoners with dementia: (1) early and ongoing screening for older prisoners; (2) specialized services; (3) specialized units; (4) programs or activities; (5) adaptations to current contexts; (6) early release or parole for older prisoners with dementia deemed at low risk of reoffending; and (7) training younger prisoners (8) as well as staff to assist older prisoners with dementia. Besides practical strategies improving care practice, costs, prison-specific resources, and staff skills were highlighted as care barriers across all themes. A lack of empirical evidence supported these findings. One of the implications of the international ageing prison population is the higher number of people living with dementia being incarcerated. Suggestions for best care approaches for prisoners with dementia now need to move from opinion to empirical approaches to guide practice.

Comparative outcomes for a national cohort of persons convicted of murder, with and without serious mental illness, and those found not guilty by reason of insanity on a murder charge: A 25-year follow-up study.

Serious mental illness (SMI) is common among persons sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, yet little is known about how this affects rehabilitation, prospects of parole, or risk to the community. The aim of this study is to compare outcomes for a national cohort of offenders charged with murder who were either convicted and sentenced to life in prison or placed on a forensic hospital order. The 386 cases of murder charges in New Zealand between 1988 and 2000 were divided into three groups: perpetrators without SMI sentenced to life imprisonment (n = 313), perpetrators with SMI but sentenced to life imprisonment (n = 32), or those with such illness and found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) who received a forensic hospital order (n = 41). Access to rehabilitative interventions, time to release, reoffending, and recall to prison or hospital were examined. Being in prison but having severe mental illness delayed release on parole but did not increase the risk of criminal recidivism or recall to prison. Hospital order patients were a demographically different group; they were released to the community earlier and had a lower rate of criminal recidivism. This study provides some evidence that incarceration periods for life-sentenced homicide perpetrators with SMI may be reduced without increasing community risk if hospital transfer and/or more targeted interventions are provided in prison. It also provides further evidence that persons found NGRI after a charge of murder have a relatively low risk of criminal recidivism. The stigma that may sometimes attach to such offenders is unwarranted, if it relies on concerns about risk of reoffending.

"I feel that if I didn't come to it anymore, maybe I would go back to my old ways and I don't want that to happen": Adapted sex offender treatment programmes: Views of service users with autism spectrum disorders.

The cognitive and behavioural profile associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) includes difficulties with social interaction, communication and empathy. Each of these may present barriers to effective participation in sexual offending treatment, leading to poorer outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 men with autism and an intellectual disability (including the borderline range) who had completed an adapted sex offender treatment programme. Grounded Theory was used to explore the men's experiences of treatment and perceptions of risk. The men's perceptions of sexual risk were inextricably linked to constructs of identity and shaped their opinions of treatment effectiveness. Risk of reoffending was conveyed through narratives of changes in self and circumstances and included notions of blame and culpability. The findings illustrated some clear benefits for men with ASD associated with attending adapted sex offender treatment programmes, including delivery of treatment within groups and opportunities for social development. The study supports the view that difficulties with empathy and cognitive flexibility complicates treatment for sexual offending.

Restorative Justice: An Observational Outcome Evaluation of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Program

The Australian National University and Australian Institute of Criminology were commissioned by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Justice and Community Safety Directorate to undertake an impact evaluation of the restorative justice conferencing program. There were two components to this evaluation. The first involved the analysis of surveys of offenders, victims and their support persons conducted by the Restorative Justice (RJ) Unit following each conference. The second involved using criminal history data provided by ACT Policing to conduct an analysis of reoffending among the 1,143 participants in restorative justice conferencing (RJC) compared with 4,668 young offenders dealt with at the same time through the normal process, whose criminal history had been tracked until September 2016. Analysis of the surveys completed by conference participants show that the majority of victims, victim support persons, offenders and offender support persons were satisfied with the conference process and outcome of the conference. Overall, 93% of all conference participants (victims, offenders, and supporters) reported being pleased with the outcome of their conference, and between 97 and 99% of all participants and felt treated with respect, able to say what they wanted as part of the process, that the process was fair for them and the offender, and that their rights had been respected. To measure the impact RJC on reoffending, various statistical methods were used to estimate recidivism. These methods compared the proportion of RJC participants who re-offended with a comparison group of young offenders who had not been referred to the program. Apart from estimating the proportion of offenders who re-offended (defined here as re-arrest), and the time taken to reoffend, the frequency of reoffending (i.e. the number of charges or offences) was also measured. The RJC participants were more likely to be male, younger, charged with a violent or property offence, and with a more extensive criminal history than non-participants—factors known to increase the risk of reoffending. The raw percent re-arrested by the cut-off date (September 2016) was 55.9% of the RJC participants and 45.4% of the non-RJC group. After adjusting for differences in follow up time (i.e. a maximum follow up of 12 years and a median follow-up of approximately 7 years) an estimated 61% of RJC participants and 49% of non-participants would be expected to be re-apprehended for at least one offence. However, RJC participants are less likely to reoffend or to reoffend as often as non-participants when differences between them were controlled in either a conventional multivariate model or a matched case analysis. Both approaches produced similar results overall. The multivariate method estimated a 23% reduction and the matched case method a 30% reduction in the frequency of re-offending. The multivariate regression showed RJC participants were significantly less likely to reoffend after the reference episode, although the positive impact of the RJC process appears to decay over time. An intervention effect is also evident when matched groups of juvenile offenders are compared—RJC participants take significantly longer to reoffend and accumulate fewer offences. The proportion estimated to reoffend after 12 months was 20% for RJC participants and 29% for the matched comparison group, after five years about 47% of both RJ and non-RJ had re-offended, but after ten years, 54% of RJC participants compared to 64% of non-participants would be expected to be re-apprehended for at least one offence. The frequency of offending in the follow-up period was also more pronounced at 30% lower for offenders who participated in a RJC compared with a matched group of offenders dealt with by a court or by police using another disposition. The positive RJC intervention effect is further confirmed in a factorial analysis of the risks of recidivism, with lower risks of recidivism identified for specific sub-groups of offenders engaged in the RJC process: for example, property offenders with a prior record had significantly lower recidivism and took longer to re-offend after participation in RJC than those that did not. First time violent offenders also had significantly lower recidivism risks post RJC than those who did not. This observational study of the effects of RJC has limitations because the comparison group was not randomly assigned but matched post hoc using statistical methods or controls. Thus, some selection factors may be overlooked or unaccounted for. However, after applying a variety of analytical methods to describe this large sample of juvenile offenders we conclude that the RJC program has a positive impact on reoffending. It was not possible to draw any conclusions as to whether victims who participate in RJC are more satisfied than those whose matter is dealt with by a court or another disposition, there are very few participants who are dissatisfied with the process and outcome. The victim-centric program delivered by the Restorative Justice Unit is thus successful in delivering a generally positive experience for victims, and other conference participants.

A model of a specialist transitional support and liaison service within the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway in Wales: Learning from a regional pilot service

The process of transitioning from custody to the community can be a time of increased risk of reoffending and heightened anxiety brought on by uncertainty of future plans and unfamiliarity of new surroundings. This period can be particularly problematic for those experiencing complex needs or suffering with mental health difficulties. To address this concern, the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway (OPDP) in Wales established a Transitional Support Liaison service. This pilot service began with a focus on women’s criminal justice journeys, and evident benefits led to service expansion to additionally address men’s transitions to the community through Approved Premises. This practice note outlines the learning from these services, presenting a model of service delivery that can be adopted and expanded more widely. The paper concludes with recommendations and plans for service expansion.

Az automatizált igazságszolgáltatás lehetőségei és dilemmái

A szerző áttekintést nyújt az automatizált kockázatértékelés etikai és gyakorlati kihívásairól a büntető igazságszolgáltatási rendszerben.

Victim–Offender Mediation and Reduced Reoffending: Gauging the Self-Selection Bias

Previous research suggests that participation in victim–offender mediation (VOM) can lower the risk of reoffending. However, no randomized controlled trials have been done to examine this effect of VOM. Given that participation in VOM is voluntary, previous studies likely suffer from self-selection bias. To address this bias, we compared reoffending rates of three different offender groups: offenders who participated in VOM; offenders who were willing to participate, but whose counterpart declined VOM; and offenders unwilling to participate (total N = 1,275). Results replicated that participation in VOM predicts lower reoffending rates and suggested that this effect is not solely due to a self-selection bias. Suggestions are made for future research to examine why VOM causes lower reoffending rates.

Effectiveness and Costs of a Therapeutic Residential Care Program for Adolescents with a Serious Behavior Problem (MultifunC). Short-Term Results of a Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT Although research has repeatedly shown that residential care for youth with a serious behavior problem has little rehabilitation success, there is a group of youth for whom residential care in a locked setting is necessary. In this article, a manualized therapeutic residential treatment model for adolescents with serious behavior problems, MultifunC, is evaluated. The program theory of MultifunC is based on a review of the literature and synthesis effective treatment components. This study included 80 youth aged 15–17 years with a medium high or high risk for reoffending. Half of the participants received MultifunC, and half treatment as usual (TAU). Although non-randomized, the two groups were found to be equivalent on important background variables. After 24 months, this first evaluation of MultifunC demonstrated that youth participating in MultifunC had a reduced need for residential care in a locked setting as well as out-of-home placement in general compared to youth in the TAU group. The economic analysis found MultifunC to be a cost-effective alternative to TAU due to the reduced need of residential care in locked settings. There were no significant effects on reoffending or psychiatric care.

People with severe problematic personality traits and offending histories: What influences occupational participation?

BackgroundOccupational participation is important for personality disordered offenders (PDOs) because it is integral to health and desistance from offending. What influences occupational participation is unknown for PDOs in the community, limiting effective intervention to affect change. In England and Wales, the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway aims to improve outcomes for people considered highly likely to have a severe personality disorder and who present a high risk of reoffending, who are determined to be PDOs on the basis of a structured assessment. This study identified the influencers of occupational participation for the population who receive this service. MethodIn this critical realist, qualitative study, narrative interviews were conducted with 18 PDOs supervised by probation in England. Transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach to establish influencers of occupational participation. ResultsFour themes describe influencers of occupational participation: function of occupations; influence of the past; external forces; and learning and adaptation. The latter theme reflected understandings of occupational adaptation described by the Model of Human Occupation. ConclusionsAn intervention to increase prosocial occupational participation should be developed and evaluated for PDOs in the community, taking account of occupational participation over the life course.

Professional judgement about re-offending: Factorial survey

Summary Social workers in criminal justice provide reports to courts, including assessments of the likelihood of re-offending, which are used to assist in judicial decisions. This study used a factorial survey with 93 social workers employed as probation officers to measure factors influencing their judgement of the risk of re-offending. Findings Analysis using regression and analysis of variance showed that judgements about the likelihood of re-offending were influenced by dynamic factors (such as substance misuse, support networks, level of responsibility taken for offending behaviour and cooperation with probation supervision) as well as more widely tested static risk factors (such as previous convictions and age). Application This study highlights a range of dynamic factors that might inform review of criminal justice social work assessment tools which typically incorporate the better-tested static factors. The findings will contribute to current thinking in social work education which is starting to address issues of risk and decision making more explicitly in the curriculum at both qualifying and post-qualifying stages. The more nuanced assessment of factors considered by experienced criminal justice social workers will complement the evidence from more strongly evidenced static risk factors to inform teaching about professional judgements. As we seek to incorporate statistical knowledge into the human processes of social work assessment, Brunskwik’s Lens Model and other psycho-social rationality models – which bridge between analytic and descriptive models of human judgement – may be useful conceptualisations of the professional judgement process in social work.

Does emotion matter? The role of alexithymia in violent recidivism: A systematic literature review.

Several variables have been evidenced for their association with violent reoffending. Resultant interventions have been suggested, yet the rate of recidivism remains high. Alexithymia, characterised by deficits in emotion processing and verbal expression, might interact with these other risk factors to affect outcomes. Our goal was to examine the role of alexithymia as a possible moderator of risk factors for violent offender recidivism. Our hypothesis was that, albeit with other risk factors, alexithymia increases the risk of violent reoffending. We conducted a systematic literature review, using terms for alexithymia and violent offending and their intersection. (a) No study that directly tests the role of alexithymia in conjunction with other potential risk factors for recidivism and actual violent recidivism was uncovered. (b) Primarily alexithymia researchers and primarily researchers into violence have separately found several clinical features in common between aspects of alexithymia and violence, such as impulsivity (total n=24 studies). (c) Other researchers have established a relationship between alexithymia and both dynamic and static risk factors for violent recidivism (n=16 studies). Alexithymia may be a possible moderator of risk of violent offence recidivism. Supplementing offenders' rehabilitation efforts with assessments of alexithymia may assist in designing individually tailored interventions to promote desistance among violent offenders.

Exploratory comparison between fatal and non-fatal cases of intimate partner violence

PurposeMuch has been written about intimate partner homicide (IPH), but empirical examinations have been less rigorous and mostly descriptive in nature. The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploration of the characteristics of fatal intimate partner violence (IPV) cases.Design/methodology/approachA direct comparison of fatal IPHs with both a matched sample of non-fatal IPV cases and a random selection of non-fatal IPV cases is made on a number of offence, offender, victim characteristics and risk-relevant variables.FindingsDespite assertions that domestic homicide is different than domestic violence, in general, few notable differences emerged among the groups. Prior domestic incidents differed between the matched fatal and non-fatal cases, where a greater proportion of the homicide perpetrators had a prior domestic incident. Other differences that were found revealed that more non-fatal perpetrators had substance abuse problems, younger victims and been unemployed at the time of the offence. However, differences were minimal when fatal and non-fatal IPV perpetrators were matched on demographic features and criminal history.Originality/valueThis study highlights that there may be few features that distinguish IPH and non-fatal violence. Rather than be distracted with searching for risk factors predictive of fatality, we should evaluate IPV risk using broad-based approaches to determine risk for reoffending and overall severity of reoffending.

Measuring the quality of life of incarcerated individuals

PurposeMeasuring quality of life (QoL) under incarceration can be used to track successful rehabilitation and risk of re-offending. However, few studies have measured QoL among general incarcerated populations, and it is important to use psychometrically strong measures that pose minimal burdens to respondents and administrators. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe aim of this analysis was to explore the utility of a short generic tool measuring overall QoL, the QOL5, in an incarcerated population. The authors drew data from the Norwegian Offender Mental Health and Addiction Study, a cross-sectional survey of 1,499 individuals from Norwegian prisons.FindingsFactor analysis suggested a unidimensional structure that explained 53.2 percent of variance in QoL scores. Intrascale correlations were high and internal consistency was acceptable (α=0.764). The QOL5 was strongly correlated with mental health, moderately correlated with exercise frequency and weakly correlated with ward security.Practical implicationsThe QOL5 is a short measure that presents minimal burden to respondents and administrators. The authors recommend its further use in incarcerated populations to measure overall QoL as well as cross-cultural adaptation and validation in more languages.Originality/valueIn this analysis of the largest published sample to date of incarcerated individuals and their QoL, the QOL5 appears to be an acceptable and valid measure of overall QoL.

The lifetime prevalence of hospitalised head injury in Scottish prisons: A population study.

BackgroundThere is mounting evidence that associates brain injury and offending behaviour, and there is a need to understand the epidemiology of head injury in prisoners in order to plan interventions to reduce associated disability and risk of reoffending. This is the first study to determine the lifetime prevalence of hospitalised head injury (HHI) in a national population of current prison inmates. In addition characteristics of prisoners with HHI and were compared to prisoners without HHI to discover whether those with HI differed demographically.MethodsWhole life hospital records of everyone aged 35 years or younger and resident in a prison in Scotland on a census date in 2015 were electronically linked via their unique NHS identifier and checked for ICD-9 and 10 codes for head injury. Using a case-control design, these data were compared with a sample from the general population matched 3:1 for age, gender and area-based social deprivation. Comparison of demographic variables was made between prisoners with and without HHI.ResultsHHI was found in 24.7% (1,080/4,374) of prisoners and was significantly more prevalent than found in the matched general population sample (18.2%; 2394/13122; OR 2.10; 95%CI 1.87, 2.16). The prevalence of HHI in prisoners and controls was similar with the exception of a higher risk of HHI in prisoners in lower deprivation quintiles. Having three or more HHI was more common in prisoners (OR 3.04; 95%CI 2.33, 3.97) as were HHI with ICD codes for intracranial injuries (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.54, 2.11), suggesting that more severe HHI is more prevalent in prisoners than the general population. The distributions within demographic variables and the characteristics of HHI admissions in prisoners with and without a history of HHI were similar.ConclusionPrisoners in Scotland aged 35 years or younger have a higher lifetime prevalence of HHI than the general population and are more likely to have had repeated HI or intracranial injuries. Further work is required to elucidate the correspondence between self-report of HI and hospitalised records and to ascertain persisting effects of HI in prisoners and the need for services to reduce associated disability and risk of reoffending.

The Accuracy, Equity, and Jurisprudence of Criminal Risk Assessment

Jurisdictions across the country, including the federal government through its recently enacted First Step Act, have begun using statistical algorithms (also called “instruments”) to help determine an arrestee’s or an offender’s risk of reoffending. These risk assessment instruments (RAIs) might be used at a number of points in the criminal process, including at the front-end by judges to impose a sentence after conviction, at the back-end by parole boards to make decisions about prison release, or in between these two points by correctional authorities determining the optimal security and service arrangements for an offender. At the pretrial stage, RAIs might come into play at the time of the bail or pretrial detention determination by a judge, which usually takes place shortly after arrest. The increased use of RAIs in the criminal justice system has given rise to several criticisms. RAIs are said to be no more accurate than clinical assessments, racially biased, lacking in transparency and, because of their quantitative nature, dehumanizing. This chapter critically examines a number of these concerns. It also highlights how the law has, and should, respond to these issues.

Professional Reports for Sentencing Courts: Recommendations for Reporting on Child Exploitation Material Offenders’ Risk of Recidivism and Prospects for Rehabilitation

Denunciation and general deterrence are major objectives of sentencing those who are convicted of possessing or distributing child exploitation material in Australia (CEM offenders), but courts also strive to achieve specific deterrence. To this end, courts tend to rely on professional reports as evidence of risk of reoffending and prospects for rehabilitation. After outlining matters that courts consider when sentencing CEM offenders, we discuss key empirical findings concerning CEM offenders’ risk of recidivism, and then evaluate two approaches for assessing this risk: actuarial assessments; and structured professional judgment. We recommend that professional reports prepared for sentencing reflect current research findings regarding risk of recidivism amongst CEM offenders and that the structured professional judgment approach is used. We also recommend that matters which inform offenders’ risk of recidivism and their prospects for rehabilitation be reported separately.

Male Sexual Assault of Women: Origins, Motivations, and Treatment

For more than 20 years I have evaluated recidivist sexual offenders’ risk of reoffending after they complete their prison terms. In written reports and court testimony I provide an expert opinion on whether these men should be released into the community or remain in a secure treatment facility. In this article, I explore the reasons men sexually assault women and discuss the changes they need to make—and capacities they need to develop—to reduce their risk of reoffending. I use a case example to illustrate these points.

Does the Format of the Message Affect What Is Heard? A Two-Part Study on the Communication of Violence Risk Assessment Data

ABSTRACTThere is currently limited understanding about how best to communicate the results of violence risk assessments to legal decision makers. To advance this literature, a two-part study was conducted assessing whether layperson perceptions of risk and dangerousness varied across common communication formats. Participants in both studies were exposed to a deidentified vignette about a defendant who was charged with a felony offense followed by expert testimony regarding that defendant’s level of risk for general violence. Study 1 (N = 103) compared perceptions across numerical, ordinal, and risk management (action-oriented) approaches using a sample of former criminal trial jurors. Results showed that, while exposure to numerical data was associated with the lowest ratings of risk, all participants overestimated risk of reoffending (ranging from about 40% to 62% compared to the expert’s estimate of 17% in 7 years and 31% in 10-years). Study 2 (N = 199) was an exploratory investigation of elaboration strategies to enhance application of numerical data in particular, using a sample consisting largely of undergraduates. Participants again overestimated risk regardless of condition, albeit to a slightly less extent than in Study 1. Based on these results, we make several recommendations to advance future research on risk communication, including using methodologies that approximate courtroom proceedings as closely as possible.