OFFENDER ASSESSMENT - A CASEBOOK IN CORRECTIONS

• NCJ Number: 66505
• Author(s): R B MILLS
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 210 pages
• Corporate Author: Anderson Publishing Co
• Sale Source: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Training (Handbook/Manual)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: CRIMINAL JUSTICE CASEBOOKS - CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES

Annotation

THIS TRAINING MANUAL MAPS OUT A SKILLS-TRAINING PROCESS FOR INTRODUCING DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WRITING TO CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WHO MUST DIAGNOSE OR INVESTIGATE OFFENDERS AT KEY POINTS IN THE CRIMINAL CORRECTIONS PROCESS.

Abstract

AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THIS TRAINING PROCESS IS THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN QUANTITATIVE, OBJECTIVE FACTS AND STATISTICS AS THE BASIS FOR DECISIONMAKING AND THE SUBJECTIVE, INTUITIVE, CLINICAL APPROACH AS THE BASIS FOR PROBLEMSOLVING. THE FIRST OBJECTIVE DEALS WITH DETERMINING THE CULTURAL COMPETENCE OF THE OFFENDER WITHOUT NECESSARILY AFFECTING HIS CRIMINAL PREDISPOSITION, WHILE THE SECOND GOES TO THE CORE OF THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS TO LOCATE AND TREAT THE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS UNDERLYING INDIVIDUAL CRIMINALITY. THIS CASEBOOK ENCOURAGES THE CORRECTIONS REPORT WRITER TO MOVE FROM DESCRIPTION TO PRESCRIPTION FOR OFFENDERS, TO TAKE THEIR FACTUAL LIFE-HISTORY AND, THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL AND CLINICAL METHODS, TO GUIDE SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT BY CONSTRUCTING THE BEST POSSIBLE SET OF PREDICTIONS ABOUT AN OFFENDER'S BEHAVIOR. IN THIS SKILLS-PRACTICE METHOD, THEORY IS EMBEDDED IN THE CONTEXT OF PRACTICAL PROBLEMS TO BE RESOLVED. COMPLETE CASE HISTORIES PROVIDE A CONTEXT FOR DEALING WITH SPECIFIC PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN TYPICAL CASES. STUDENTS ARE GUIDED THROUGH A SERIES OF GRADUATED STEPS TOWARD PRODUCTION OF FULL-FLEDGED ASSESSMENTS OF OFFENDERS. DISCUSSION OF GUIDELINES, PRACTICE CASES WITH ASSIGNED TASKS, QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION, SUPPLEMENTARY COMMENTS, AND READINGS HIGHLIGHT EACH STEP OF THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS. THE TRIPARTITE DIVISION OF THE MATERIAL PRESENTS FIRST THE FORMS AND FUNCTIONS OF OFFENDER EVALUATION, PROGRESSES TO THE CONTENT OF ASSESSMENT REPORTS, AND CONCLUDES WITH THE APPLICATION OF OFFENDER ASSESSMENTS IN INSTITUTION AND AFTERCARE SETTINGS. THE METHODS TAUGHT ARE APPLICABLE TO ANY CORRECTIONAL SETTING WHERE THERE IS INTERACTION BETWEEN A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AND AN OFFENDER IN A DIAGNOSTIC TREATMENT SITUATION. TABULAR DATA AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING LISTS ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)