Over the past 20 years, an increased understanding has been developed of what interventions do and do not work with offenders. Treatment programs that attend to offender risk, needs, and responsivity factors have been associated with reduced recidivism. There is also a recognition that sanctions without a rehabilitative component are ineffective in reducing offender recidivism. This study evaluates a cognitive-behavioral treatment program delivered within the context of intensive community supervision via electronic monitoring (EM). Offenders receiving treatment while in an EM program were statistically matched on risk and needs factors to inmates who did not receive treatment services. The results showed that treatment was effective in reducing recidivism for higher risk offenders, confirming the risk principle of offender treatment. The importance of matching treatment intensity to offender risk level and ensuring that there is a treatment component in intensive supervision programs is reaffirmed.

Compared to male offenders, female offenders have received little empirical attention. This is particularly true in the area of offender risk assessment. Numerous objective risk scales have been developed and used for males, but very few for women. Two studies were conducted to investigate the predictors of female recidivism. The first study attempted to validate a risk scale developed on a male offender population and found poor generalizability. The second study explored additional possible predictors including victimization experiences. Once again, little progress was made. The implications for future research on female offender risk prediction and prison programming are discussed.

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Electronic monitoring (EM) is a correctional program promising an alternative to imprisonment. The present study compared EM programs that differed in setting (corrections-based vs. court-based) and the type of supervision (custodial staff vs. probation officers). EM offenders were also compared with inmates and probationers matched for offender risk. The results showed that type of program was unrelated to program completion or recidivism and that EM had a net-widening effect. Type of supervision showed some relationship with offender and staff views of the program but, in general, EM added little value to more traditional forms of community control.