Forensic Assessment and Rehabilitation

Question 1

Why is the study of offenders important?

Answer 1

• Highlights risk factors for offending behavior.
• Provides valuable information for the assessment and treatment of offenders.

Question 2

What are Andrews and Bonta’s (2007) three principles of effective practice?

Answer 2

1. Risk principle: Treatment should align with the offender’s risk level.
2. Need principle: Problematic areas in the offender’s life (criminogenic and non-criminogenic needs) must be addressed.
3. Responsivity principle: Interventions should match the offender’s learning style.

Question 3

What is the aim of risk assessment?

Answer 3

To predict the likelihood of future events and minimize false positives and false negatives.

Question 4

What are the three methods of risk assessment?

Answer 4

1. Clinical Prediction: Informal, subjective judgment based on clinician expertise.
2. Actuarial Prediction: Based on statistical analysis using weighted risk factors.
3. Structured Clinical Judgment: Combines actuarial and clinical methods to improve predictive accuracy.

Question 5

What are the two types of predictors used in risk assessment?

Answer 5

1. Static factors: Unchangeable, e.g., age or past convictions.
2. Dynamic factors: Potentially changeable, e.g., attitudes or behaviours.

Question 6

What is an example of an actuarial prediction tool?

Answer 6

Offender Group Reconviction Scale (OGRS3), which uses variables like age, gender, conviction rate, and sanctioning history.

Question 7

What is an example of a structured clinical judgment tool?

Answer 7

• Offender Assessment System (OASys), which assesses:
  
  • Offending history.
  • Social factors (e.g., accommodation, employability).
  • Personal factors (e.g., attitudes, emotional state).

Question 8

What are the outputs of risk assessments used for?

Answer 8

Informing sentencing, sentence planning, security decisions, intervention eligibility, and research.

Question 9

What are the two areas of research behind cognitive skills programs?

Answer 9

1. Research into offenders’ cognitive functioning.
2. Meta-analytic research showing consistent findings in offender thinking styles.

Question 10

What models emerged from cognitive skills research?

Answer 10

1. Risk-Need-Responsivity Model (Andrews, Bonta, and Hoge, 1990).
2. Correctional Services Accreditation Criteria (Lipton et al., 2000; Maguire et al., 2010).

Question 11

What does treatment typically look like?

Answer 11

• Group-based, with 8–12 offenders and 2–3 facilitators.
• Manualized programs with specific exercises designed to build skills progressively.
• Includes general offending behavior programs and offense-specific programs.

Question 12

What is program integrity?

Answer 12

Ensuring the program is delivered as intended, including correct session content, appropriate resources, and proper training for staff.

Question 13

What are three threats to program integrity?

Answer 13

1. Program drift: Gradual changes over time in the program’s aims or practices.
2. Program reversal: Active resistance by practitioners undermining the program.
3. Program non-compliance: Practitioners deciding to alter the program.