Efficacy of the Risk-Need-Responsivity Framework in Guiding Treatment for Female Young Offenders

• NCJ Number: 241430
• Author(s): Antigone Nina Vitopoulos
• Date Published: 2011
• Length: 44 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
• Publication Format: Dissertation/Thesis; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

Thirty-nine male and 37 female juvenile offenders were compared in terms of their outcomes after being processed under the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model.

Abstract

Under the RNR model, the "risk" principle maintains that the amount of intervention an offender receives must be matched to his/her level of risk to reoffend (Dowden and Andrews, 1999), such that higher levels of service should be reserved for higher risk offenders, with lower risk offenders having better outcomes with minimal intervention. The "need" principle states that targets of service should be matched to the criminogenic needs of offenders. These are specific behavioral characteristics and behavioral patterns that have been empirically identified as related to risk to reoffend; when met, they reduce an offender's risk to reoffend. The "responsivity" principle states that styles and models of service delivery should be matched to the learning styles, abilities, and motivation of the individual in order for services to have optimal effects. The current research focuses on whether the application of this model is gender neutral for male and female juvenile offenders. The study's focus is on gender comparisons in three dimensions of the RNR model's application: Areas of high risk and need; the proportion of criminogenic needs probation officers are able to address; and whether subsequent recidivism is predicted equally well for males and females. The study found that male and female juvenile offenders were similar in the quality and quantity of needs, and these needs were met through probation services at a similar rate; however, although the RNR assessment tool predicted the risk for recidivism equally well for both genders, the matching of services to RNR needs was significantly more potent in reducing recidivism for boys than girls. This suggests a moderating effect of gender on the link between RNR-matched treatment and reoffending. 6 tables, 1 figure, and approximately 50 references