Principles of Evidence-Based Practice SB 678 Briefing Bar Area Northern Coastal Regional AOC Office November 29, 2010 Judge Roger K. Warren (Ret.) Scholar-in-Residence Administrative Office of the Courts

State Chief Justices Top concerns of state trial judges hearing felony cases: 1. High rates of recidivism 2. Ineffectiveness of traditional probation supervision in reducing recidivism 3. Absence of effective community corrections programs 4. Restrictions on judicial discretion 2

“Putting more and more offenders on probation just perpetuates the problem. The same people are picked up again and again until they end up in the state penitentiary and take up space that should be used for violent offenders.” Judge Herbert Klein November

“What is done [today] in corrections would be grounds for malpractice in medicine.” (2002) Latessa, Cullen, and Gendreau, “Beyond Correctional Quackery…” 4

State Chief Justices: Top Two Reform Objectives Reduce recidivism through expanded use of evidence-based practices, programs that work, and offender risk and needs assessment tools Reduce recidivism through expanded use of evidence-based practices, programs that work, and offender risk and needs assessment tools Promote the development, funding, and utilization of community-based programs for appropriate offenders Promote the development, funding, and utilization of community-based programs for appropriate offenders

2008 California Summit Recommendations I. Include recidivism reduction as a primary purpose of probation & sentencing II. Implement EBP in sentencing of offenders placed on probation III. Strengthen adult probation services IV. Establish new system of community corrections in California

Evidence-Based Practice EBP: probation supervision practices that are “demonstrated by scientific research to reduce recidivism among individuals under supervision” Penal Code §1229 (d) EBP: probation supervision practices that are “demonstrated by scientific research to reduce recidivism among individuals under supervision” Penal Code §1229 (d) EBS: sentencing practices based on principles of EBP EBS: sentencing practices based on principles of EBP 7

Purposes of Sentencing 1. “Just Deserts:” penalty or punishment proportionate to the gravity of the offense & culpability of the offender 2. Public Safety Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Specific Deterrence Specific Deterrence Incapacitation/Control Incapacitation/Control General Deterrence General Deterrence 3. Restitution/Restoration 8 Risk Reduction & Management

Principles of EBP Risk Principle (Who) Needs Principle (What) Treatment Principle (What works) 9

Risk Principle (Who) The level of supervision or services should be matched to the risk level of the offender: i.e., higher risk offenders should receive more intensive supervision and services. 10

Potential Impact on Recidivism Low Low Medium Medium Medium High High High- Extreme High Extreme High Recidivism rates absent treatment Likely recidivism with effective correctional intervention

Travis Co., Texas: Impact of Supervision by Risk Risk Level % Rearrest% Change in Rate Pre-TCIS 1/06-6/06 N = 1287 Post-TCIS 7/07-10/07 N = 614 Low26%6%-77% Medium26%13%-50% High34%31%-9% Overall29%24%-17%

Needs Principle (What) The targets for interventions should be those offender characteristics that have the most effect on the likelihood of re-offending.

Risk of Heart Attack 1. Elevated LDL and low HDL levels 2. Smoking 3. Diabetes 4. Hypertension 5. Abdominal obesity 6. Psychosocial (i.e., stress or depression) 7. Failure to eat fruits and vegetables daily 8. Failure to exercise

15 Dynamic Risk Factors (Criminogenic Needs) Anti-social attitudes Anti-social attitudes Anti-social friends and peers Anti-social friends and peers Anti-social personality pattern Anti-social personality pattern Family and/or marital factors Family and/or marital factors Substance abuse Substance abuse Education Education Employment Employment Anti-social leisure activities Anti-social leisure activities

Anti-Social Personality Pattern Lack of self-control Lack of self-control Risk taking Risk taking Impulsivity Impulsivity Poor problem solving Poor problem solving Lack of empathy Lack of empathy Narcissism Narcissism Anger and hostility Anger and hostility

LOW RISKMEDIUM RISKHIGH RISK Lowest reporting requirements Increased reporting requirements Highest reporting requirements No need for intensive discretionary programs Discretionary programs depending on determination of need Use of surveillance programs, & most intensive treatments Caseload 500-1,000 Caseload Caseload Extremely High Risk; High Risk

Risk/Needs Assessment The engine that drives EBP and EBS The engine that drives EBP and EBS Validation & reliability Validation & reliability General v. specialized tools General v. specialized tools Proprietary v. non-proprietary Proprietary v. non-proprietary Intended to inform not replace professional judgment Intended to inform not replace professional judgment Re-assessment Re-assessment

Use of Risk/Needs Assessment Information at Sentencing RAPP Project RAPP Project Identify appropriate level of supervision and services Identify appropriate level of supervision and services Identify dynamic risk factors to target with conditions of probation Identify dynamic risk factors to target with conditions of probation

Probation Conditions Target dynamic risk factors Target dynamic risk factors Treatment conditions, e.g. successfully complete treatment program Treatment conditions, e.g. successfully complete treatment program Monitoring/control conditions, e.g., drug testing, intensive supervision Monitoring/control conditions, e.g., drug testing, intensive supervision Set framework for probation case plan Set framework for probation case plan Focus on most critical risk factors Focus on most critical risk factors Provide flexibility to the PO Provide flexibility to the PO

Treatment Principle The most effective services in reducing recidivism among higher risk offenders are cognitive behavioral interventions based on social learning principles.

Social Learning: Behaviors Have Consequences Positive Rewards Rewards Reinforcement Reinforcement Incentives IncentivesNegative Swift, certain, and proportionate (fair) sanctions Swift, certain, and proportionate (fair) sanctions Severe sanctions not necessary Severe sanctions not necessary

Social Learning Also Involves…. Role models Role models Demonstration Demonstration Role play Role play Feedback Feedback Skill practice Skill practice

Behavioral v. Non-Behavioral % Reduced Recidivism K= 297 K = 77

Sometimes Aware BehaviorVisible Thoughts Feelings Cognitive Structure (Beliefs and Attitudes) Beneath the Surface

50% reduction in recidivism compared to traditional probation Cognitive Behavioral Tx: T4C

What Doesn’t Work to Reduce Recidivism: Services Shaming programs Drug education programs Drug prevention classes focused on fear or emotional appeal Non-action oriented group counseling

What Doesn’t Work to Reduce Recidivism: Services Bibliotherapy Bibliotherapy Freudian approaches Freudian approaches Vague, unstructured rehabilitation programs Vague, unstructured rehabilitation programs Self-esteem programs Self-esteem programs Non skill-based education programs Non skill-based education programs

What Doesn’t Work to Reduce Recidivism: Traditional Sanctions Punishment, sanctions, or incarceration Punishment, sanctions, or incarceration Specific deterrence, or fear-based programs, e.g., Scared Straight Specific deterrence, or fear-based programs, e.g., Scared Straight Physical challenge programs Physical challenge programs Military models of discipline and physical fitness - Boot Camps Military models of discipline and physical fitness - Boot Camps Intensive supervision, without treatment Intensive supervision, without treatment

Enhancing Offender Motivation Coerced Treatment Coerced Treatment Extrinsic Intrinsic Motivation Extrinsic Intrinsic Motivation Relationship & Engagement Relationship & Engagement The Offender Is In Charge The Offender Is In Charge Procedural Fairness Procedural Fairness Motivational Interviewing Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing Use open-ended questions Use open-ended questions Listen reflectively Listen reflectively Develop discrepancy/dissonance Develop discrepancy/dissonance Support self-efficacy Support self-efficacy Roll with resistance; deflection Roll with resistance; deflection Avoid argument, lecture, shaming, threats, or sympathizing Avoid argument, lecture, shaming, threats, or sympathizing

Stages of Change (Ready for change) ENTER HERE TEMPORARY EXIT Relapse (Skills to maintain w/o relapse) Maintenance (Doing something i.e. treatment) Pre-Contemplation (Denial) Contemplation (“yes but...”) Action PERMANENT EXIT

Responses that Encourage Change ENTER HERE TEMPORARY EXIT Relapse Maintenance Pre-Contemplation Contemplation Action PERMANENT EXIT Avoid Demoralization Relapse Prevention Practical Strategies Increase Ambivalence Promote Self-Diagnosis

Principles of an Evidence-Based Probation Violation Policy One size does not fit all violations One size does not fit all violations  Severity of violation  Extent of prior compliance  Re-assessment of risk Swift, certain, and proportionate sanctions Swift, certain, and proportionate sanctions Graduated continuum of both sanctions and services Graduated continuum of both sanctions and services Incentives and positive reinforcement to gain compliance & avoid violations Incentives and positive reinforcement to gain compliance & avoid violations Administrative sanctions policy that allows for flexibility by probation, e.g. Penal Code § (b) Administrative sanctions policy that allows for flexibility by probation, e.g. Penal Code § (b)

Principles of Evidence-Based Practice SB 678 Briefing Bar Area Northern Coastal Regional AOC Office November 29, 2010 Judge Roger K. Warren (Ret.) Scholar-in-Residence Administrative Office of the Courts