The Importance of Appropriate Allocation to Offending Behavior Programs

Abstract

This study examined the impact on reconviction of appropriate allocation to three general offending behavior programs involving adult male offenders in the English and Welsh Probation Service. Appropriate allocation was defined by level of risk for reconviction. There were three allocation groups: too low, appropriate, and too high. Using a quasi-experimental design, the reconviction rates of offenders who were allocated to and completed a program, offenders allocated to a program who failed to start, and a comparison group were compared. It was found that the appropriateness of allocation affected reconviction independently of treatment group. Furthermore, in line with the risk principle, there was an interaction between treatment group and the appropriateness of allocation.

Allocation to Offending Behavior Programs in the English and Welsh Probation Service

“…As in the previous study , there was wide variation in Probation Areas' performance, with appropriate allocation ranging from 39.26% to 76.92%. The present results relate to the 2002 cohort of offenders referred to these programs and are very similar to those reported by Palmer et al (2008) for the 2001 Note. Comp = comparison group; C = completers; NC = noncompleters; NS = nonstarters.…”

“…The finding that there was low adherence to the risk principle supports a recent study reporting low adherence to the principles of risk, need, and responsivity by probation officers in Canada (Bonta, Rugge, Scott, Bourgon, & Yessine, 2008). As noted in Palmer et al (2008), Probation Areas have targets to meet regarding these three programs-but these targets relate to number of completions rather than number of referrals or offenders starting the programs. It is easy to see how low completion rates can introduce pressure within the Probation Service to increase the number of referrals to programs to meet targets.…”

“…The overall completion rate was 60%, but different parole districts had completion rates ranging from 42% to 80%. Variation in appropriateness of allocation using the OGRS2 criterion was also reported by Palmer et al (2008) for offending behavior programs in the Probation Service during 2000-2001. In this study, the overall rate of appropriate allocation was 52.0% and ranged from 37.1% to 82.1% across different Probation Areas. Unfortunately, there has been no research to examine why there was such a wide variation in appropriate allocation across different Areas.…”

Cognitive skills programmes for offenders

“…Hanson and Bussière (1998) also reported poor outcome, in terms of reoffending, for treatment non-completers and suggested that the 'drop out effect' may be explained by greater attrition among high risk offenders. Palmer et al (2008) provided some support for this suggestion in finding high levels of misallocation of high risk offenders to cognitive skills programmes. There is clearly an interaction between risk and dropout rates: Palmer et al reported drop out rates of 76.3% for high risk offenders, 64.5% for medium risk offenders, and 50.00% for low risk offenders.…”

“…In a study of cognitive skills programmes within the Probation Service, Palmer et al (2008) considered programme outcome according to actual risk level set against the correct risk level for programme allocation. Based on risk scores for a sample of 4089 offenders, Palmer et al reported that 8.41% of offenders allocated to a programme were too low a risk, 51.97% were at an appropriate level, and 39.62% were too high.…”