ch 16 (final) Flashcards
what is the Risk Needs Responsivity (RNR) model?
- Risk needs responsivity (RNR) model: dominant approach to offender treatment in correctional psychology
→ tailoring intervention (responsivity) to learning style of offender
-what abilities, strengths do they have?
- What is the dominant model of offender treatment in correctional psychology?
a. Name the model and describe its three core principles (4 points).
- Risk needs responsivity (RNR) model
-3 core principles:
-risk: levl of services should be equal w lvl of risk (tailor resources based on risks)
-need: assessment and management should [ ] on criminogenic needs (personal characteristics that contribute to criminality)
-responsivity: tailoring interventions to offender’s learning style, motivation, abilities, strengths
(types of interventions that tend to be promoted are the ones modeling prosocial behaviors, using rewards, generally improving problem solving skills)
b. What is the theoretical basis for the RNR model? Name and describe the theory (2 points).
-general personality and cognitive social learning theory
-says that criminal behavior is learned, through either:
-classical conditioning: behavior is involuntarily assoc w reward (eg rush out of thrill seeking/committing crime)
-operant conditioning: reward is used to incentivize behavior
-vicarious learning: eg TV shows
c. Name and briefly describe the eight factors (Central 8 risk and need factors) that are targeted for treatment in the model (8 points).
- History of antisocial behavior: from a young age
- Antisocial personality pattern: aggressive, weak self control, pleasure seeking, egocentrism, weak anger management
- Antisocial cognition: positive attitude about crime
→ cognition = attitudes, values, beliefs, personal identity that is favorable to crime - Antisocial associates: hanging out w people who commit crimes
- family/marital circumstances: neglect/abuse, low levels of care/affection
- school/work: low achievement + satisfaction
- leisure/recreation: low lvls of involvement + satisfaction in noncriminal behaviors
- Substance abuse
what are the 6 sentencing options in Canada?
- absolute discharge: found guilty but judge discharges with no criminal record
- conditional discharge: found guilty but discharged w no criminal record, subject to conditions
- conditional sentence: jail sentence served in community
- fines and community service: most frequently used option; 45% of all sentences
- probation: ordered to follow certain conds for up to 3 yrs
- incarceration: custodial sentence; parole eligible after 1/3 of sentence; statutory release after 2/3 of sentence (into community, even if you haven’t passed for parole)
what is the criteria to be designated as a dangerous offender in Canada?
-must be convicted of a serious personal injury offense + judged a threat to public safety
-criteria:
-repetitive behavior likely to cause physical or severe psychological harm to others
-persistent aggressive behavior, w indifference to the consequences; and brutal nature of the offense indicate lack of behavioral restraint; OR
-sexual assault, w inability to ctrl sexual impulses posing high risk of harm to others
compare the cost of keeping inmates in correctional institutions vs community settings
-overall cost of corrections: 5 billion/year
-cost per inmate: $330/day
-cost for offenders in community settings: $32 000/yr
-73% lower than cost to keep offender in custody
describe + compare 2 major philosophical models of sentencing?
- Retributivism: if someone commits a crime, they are morally responsible + deserve to be punished
-backward looking: punishment for past crimes - Consequentialism (/utilitarianism): punishment is justified if the benefits outweigh the costs (if it produces a net positive)
[big diff between these 2 is that: retributivism doesn’t believe that punishment needs to produce any future good (even if punishment doesn’t do anything, even if it leads to them causing more harms)]
who was Jeremy Bentham? what did he believe?
-promoted consequentialist perspective on criminal justice
-thought legal system should aim to maximize happiness + minimize suffering in society
-thought sentences should be no more severe than is necessary to accomplish their aim
compare libertarianism and free will skepticism
-libertarianism: there is free will; people have ability to choose to do otherwise
-free will skepticism: there is no free will; decisions are the result of factors beyond our control (eg genetics, socialization, biology, luck)
how does the idea of rehabilitation fit with Canada’s corrections system?
-rehabilitation is a key objective of Canada’s corrections system
-every effort should be made to rehabilitate offenders, to give them understanding, skills, and opportunities they need to reintegrate themselves into society and make a safe, law-abiding life for themselves
describe 4 major events in the evolution of correctional philosophy in Canada’s history
-1938: Archambault Royal Commission of Inquiry
-recommended overhaul of prison regulations to emphasize crime prevention and rehabilitation
-1956: Fauteux Report: recommended parole system, leading to Parole Act
-1987: Canadian Sentencing Commission Report
-recommended sentencing guidelines for judges
-recommended abolishing mandatory minimums, except murder, treason
-1996: Bill C-41
-introduced sentencing purposes + principles into laws
what are 6 purposes of sentencing in Canada?
- send message that there are consequences for breaking the law
- Deterrence (specific and general)
-specific: discourages offender from committing future offences
-general: deterring other people from committing crimes (eg by hearing about others getting punished) - Separate from society, if necessary
- Rehabilitation
- Reparations to victims and the community
- Promote responsibility + acknowledgement of harm
what is the fundamental principle of sentencing in Canada? what are 5 additional principles?
-fundamental principle: sentence must be proportionate to offense severity + responsibility of the offender
-eg a teenager less responsible than a 30yo
-consider aggregating and mitigating factors
-aggregating: eg how brutal? Past history of offense? Did they abuse a position of trust?
-mitigating: eg is the person a youth? No previous convictions?
-impose similar sentences for similar offenses committed under similar circumstances
-combined sentences shouldn’t be excessively long or harsh
-imprisonment is a last resort
-particular [ ] should be given to circumstances of Indigenous people (1996 sentencing principles)
how does sentencing in the US compare to Canada?
-varies by state (eg 27 states have death penalty)
-penalties tend to be harsher than in Ca
-most states have ‘3-strikes’ laws
