New Directions in Community Supervision: Should We Target High Risk Offenders, High Risk Times, and High Risk Locations?

Abstract

This paper addresses a simple question: what have researchers in the United States and othercountries learned about probation performance generally and the effectiveness of specific probation practices in particular? While the "science" derived from the evaluation studies is still weak, it has been argued that probation could be organized along three risk dimensions, targeting high-risk times, high-risk offenders and high-risk locations. Research examining these risk dimensions is presented here, and the implications for an emerging desistance-based probation paradigm are considered

The Andrews’ principles of risk, needs, and responsivity as applied in drug treatment programs: meta-analysis of crime and drug use outcomes

“…Although the principles have not escaped criticism (Byrne 2012; Ward, Melser and Yates 2007), they have become generally accepted to the point that they are included in criminology textbooks (e.g., Andrews and Bonta 2010; Bartol and Bartol 2011; McGuire 2004) and have been adopted in many correctional systems (e.g., Canada, see Correctional Service Canada 2012; California, see California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 2007; Colorado, see Colorado Division of Probation Services 2010). Furthermore, these principles may be applied at nearly every stage of correctional processing, from determining release and supervision decisions to treatment eligibility and service provisions (Andrews 2006; Hannah-Moffat 2005; MacKenzie 2006; Ogloff and Davis 2004).…”

“…Although there have been critiques of the Andrews principles (Byrne 2012; Ward, Melser and Yates 2007), we tested the principles as described in Andrews original formulation in order to determine whether they applied to drug abuse treatment programs. The study involved the efforts of two teams experienced in meta-analysis, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI) and Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP) at UCLA.…”