NCJ Number
225190
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 72 Issue: 2 Dated: September 2008 Pages: 38-42
Date Published
September 2008
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article explains why risk/needs assessment is required in the probation supervision process and identifies the technical characteristics needed in the next generation of risk/needs assessment tools developed by the Federal probation system.
Abstract
Effective offender supervision requires the use of risk/needs assessment tools, because the intensity of an offender’s supervision and treatment must be proportional to his/her level of risk. Risk/needs tools also provide a mechanism for agency leaders to create an equitable workflow, effectively budget resources, and develop statistics necessary for determining the type of population served. A review of the history of risk/needs assessment tools in general and the particular history of their use by the Federal probation system advises that each generation of risk/needs assessment tools has advantages and disadvantages; however, the common denominator among all of the tools is that they all produce better results than clinical judgments. The current generation of available risk/needs assessment tools clearly have problems and deficiencies. This article outlines the goals that the Federal probation system is pursuing in its development of the next generation of risk/needs assessment tools. First, they must provide accurate predictions of the risk of recidivism and accurately identify the criminogenic needs of offenders. Second, they must be generalized to any probation system in the United States. Third, the tool must be sufficiently large to be reliable and valid, yet be efficient in terms of the time required for the assessment. Fourth, the tools must be responsive to changes in an offender’s condition, which requires the integration of the case management system and the assessment tool. Fifth, the tool should include trailer assessments of the likely severity of offenses if recidivism occurs. Sixth, a new tool must provide statistically valid connections between the assessment, case planning, and outcomes. 16 references