Assessment Tools and Guidelines in Community Corrections (From Correctional Assessment, Casework, and Counseling, P 121-136, 2001, Anthony Walsh, -- See NCJ-192641)

• NCJ Number: 192647
• Author(s): Anthony Walsh
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: American Correctional Association
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter provides information about assessment tools and guidelines in community corrections.

Abstract

The assessment and guideline approach is used in many jurisdictions to set bail, and in prosecutors’ offices to screen cases for dismissal or prosecution, and to guide plea bargain arrangements. These various assessment tools are used by processing officers on the basis of their evaluation. The first tool is the Social History Questionnaire (SHQ), which asks for relevant demographic information such as the offender’s address, educational level, and family and work history. Offenders are requested to fill it out completely before they meet with the presentence investigator. The Felony Sentencing Worksheet (FSW) is one of several sentencing guidelines used to assist the presentence investigator to make a sentencing recommendation. Guidelines were developed to attempt to minimize wide sentencing disparities for similar crimes and similarly situated individuals. The processing officer scores the FSW by assigning the indicated numerical scores on the basis of the legal and social factors addressed in each subsection. Another tool is the Client Management Classification Assessment Instrument (CMC), which offers guidance for exploration of offenders’ attitudes and feelings and for supervision and treatment planning. The CMC is scored so probation officers can assign offenders to one of four treatment modalities: selective intervention, environmental structure, casework control, and limit setting. The client risk and need assessment survey is part of the client management classification system, and is designed to be used in conjunction with the CMC interview schedule. The system consists of two separate scales--one that assesses an offender’s risk, and the other, an offender’s needs. On the basis of scores obtained in both sections of the assessment scale, offenders are placed under minimum, medium, or maximum supervision. Case management can be distilled into five sequential activities: assessing a client’s needs; developing a service/treatment plan; linking the client to services; monitoring his or her progress; and acting as an advocate for the client. 19 references, 1 figure