1. Risk and Needs Assessments
Presented by:
Edward J. Latessa, Ph.D.
School of Criminal Justice
University of Cincinnati

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

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

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. Family history of heart attacks Gender (males) Age (over 50)
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 Barriers to Service VH High Med Low
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