Reducing Recidivism Reducing the Rate and Use of Incarceration

1. Reducing RecidivismReducing the Rate and Use of Incarceration  What Works and Best Practices

2. Implementing Effective Correctional Management

3. “What Works” in Corrections • Not a single reviewer of studies on the effects of official punishment (e.g. custody, mandatory arrests, increased surveillance, etc.) has found consistent evidence of reduced recidivism • At least 40% (and up to 60%) of the studies of correctional treatment services reported reduced recidivism rates relative to various comparison conditions, in every published review

4. Criminal Sanctions vs. Treatment Reduced Recidivism Increased Recidivism Andrews, D.A. 1994. An Overview of Treatment Effectiveness. Research and Clinical Principles, Department of Psychology, Carleton University.

5. Behavioral vs. Non-Behavioral Reduced Recidivism Increased Recidivism Andrews, D.A. 1994. An Overview of Treatment Effectiveness. Research and Clinical Principles, Department of Psychology, Carleton University.

6. Principles of Effective Intervention • RISK – Who to target • NEED – What to target • RESPONSIVITY– How to target

7. Principles of Effective Intervention • Assess and identify higher risk offenders • Target higher risk offenders for more intensive treatment, services and supervision • Avoid including lower risk offenders in higher-end programs; it may increase their risk and failure rates

8. Major Risk/Need Factors • Antisocial/pro-criminal attitudes, values, beliefs and cognitive emotional states • Pro-criminal associates and isolation from anti-criminal others • Temperamental and personality factors including: • psychopathy • weak socialization • impulsivity/self control • restless/aggressive energy • egocentrism • below average verbal intelligence • weak problem-solving/self regulation skills • adventurous pleasure seeking

9. Major Risk/Need Factors • A history of anti-social behavior: • Evident from a young age • In a variety of settings • Involving a number and variety of anti-social acts • Family factors including criminality in the family of origin including: • Low levels of affection, caring and cohesiveness • Poor parental supervision and discipline practices • Neglect and abuse

10. Major Risk/Need Factors • Low levels of personal education, vocational or financial achievement • Little involvement in anti-criminal leisure and recreational pursuits • Substance abuse

11. Minor Risk/Need Factors Minor risk factors have some correlation with criminal conduct, but less correlation than major risk factors: • Lower intelligence • Personal distress • Low self esteem • Anxiety • Depression • Psychopathology • Major mental illness • Lower class origins • Biological anomalies • Head injury • Hormonal disturbance • Fear of official punishment

12. Principles of Effective Intervention • NEED PRINCIPLE • Identify and target criminogenic needs: • Attitudes, values, beliefs • Peer associations • Personality • Education/employment • Family • Substance abuse • Leisure/recreation

13. Principles of Effective Intervention Individual studies and meta-analyses have indicated that targeting non-criminogenic needs can lead to: • No effect on recidivism • Increased recidivism

14. Principles of Effective Intervention RESPONSIVITY PRINCIPLE • Specific responsivity • Remove barriers to treatment • Match style and mode of service delivery to key offender characteristics • General responsivity • Use cognitive behavioral interventions

15. Internal Factors Motivation Personality characteristics (anxiety, psychopathy, self-esteem) Cognitive deficiencies Demographics (age, race, gender, ethnicity) Strengths External Factors Counselor characteristics Settings Institutional Community Type of treatment Support network Responsivity Factors

16. Principles of Effective Intervention INEFFECTIVE APPROACHES Drug prevention classes focused on fear and other emotional appeals Shaming offenders Drug education programs Non-directive, client centered treatment approaches Bibliotherapy Talking cures Self-Help programs Vague unstructured rehabilitation programs Fostering self-regard (self-esteem) “Punishing smarter” (boot camps, scared straight, etc.)

17. Cognitive-Behavioral Model • Anti-Criminal Modeling • Effective Reinforcement • Effective Disapproval • Problem Solving Techniques • Structured Learning for Skill Building

18. Effective Use of Authority • Focus message on behavior, not the person • Staff are direct and specific concerning their demands • Staff use their normal voices • Staff specify choices with attendant consequences • Staff give encouraging messages • Staff support words with actions

19. Effective Use of Authority (cont.) • Staff are firm but fair • Staff provide respectful guidance toward compliance • Staff are not just monitoring for non-compliance and introducing negative sanctions • Staff reward/praise compliance

20. Characteristics of Effective Correctional Programs • Based of theory and research • Have effective leadership • Are implemented as designed • Assess offenders • Are based on effective treatment models • Are based on cognitive behavioral approaches

21. Characteristics of Effective Correctional Programs • Have structured aftercare • Deliver treatment and services consistently • Have qualified staff • Evaluate what they do • Have sufficient resources and support