Forensic Intervention Flashcards
What is a forensic intervention?
Something that aims to address offending behaviour in order to reduce reoffending
‘Nothing works’ principles
- nothing works to rehabilitate offenders
- nothing that the CJS does will reduce crime
- prisons have virtually no effect and should only be used for serious offenders
- engaging in criminological research is a tool of the state
‘What works’
- Scientific knowledge/ research is the basis for effective intervention
- scientific knowledge should be used to destroy knowledge that is not evidence based
- scientific knowledge should be used to construct knowledge about what does work
- legitimate for researchers to generate knowledge that can reduce crime
- recognises multiple influences on offending behaviour
Three basic principles for reducing reoffending and rehabilitation
Risk
Need
Responsivity
Risk
The duration and intensity of treatment and supervision should match the level of risk posed by the offender
What do we mean by risk?
Severity Imminence Frequency Potential V Triggers Protective
Need
The treatment should address the criminogenic needs
- dynamic risk factors
Criminogenic needs
- offenders have many needs that might require some form of intervention, but not all of these needs are linked to their offending behaviour
What are they linked to?
Criminal behaviour
% of difference in recidivism when criminogenic needs are assessed?
19%
Criminal attitudes
Shifting attitudes through treatment from pro criminal to pro social
Examples
- antisocial attitudes
- antisocial peers
- employment issues
- substance abuse problems
- emotional control difficulties
Responsivity
The treatment should be delivered and adapted to suit individual offender characteristics
Responsivity considerations
- intellectual ability
- language
- literacy
- mental health
- current substance use
- personality difficulties
- motivation
Other considerations
- prioritising treatment
- risk of harm
- likelihood of offending
- proximity to release
- alternative opportunities for treatment
Offender behaviour programmes - aim?
To change the thinking, attitudes and behaviours which may lead people to reoffend
What do they encourage
Pro social goals and attitudes for the future
What new skills do they help develop?
- Problem solving
- Perspective talking
- Managing relationships
- Self-management
What techniques do these programmes use
Cognitive behavioural techniques
Programme accreditation
- are accredited by the Correctional Services Accreditation and Advice Panel
When are programmes considered?
-
Examples
- Building better relationships (BBR)
- Alcohol related violence (ARV)
- Healthy identity intervention (HII)
- Thinking Skills Programme
- Choices, Actions, Relationships, Emotions (CARE)
Offender behaviour programmes
- manual based
- trained facilitators
- treatment manager/ programme manager
- 8-10 ppts
- assessed for suitability
- post treatment report
Good Lives Model - Ward (2003)
- we need to build capabilities and strengths in people, in order to reduce their risk of offending
Why do people offend?
- they are attempting to secure some kind of valued outcome in their life
- as such, offending is essentially the product of a desire for something that is inherently human and normal
- but the desire or goal manifests itself in harmful and antisocial behaviours, due to a range of deficits and weaknesses within the offender and their environment
A good life
- healthy living and functioning
Kaizen
- designed to meet the needs of adult males who pose a high risk
- sexual offences, general violent, IPV
What does it involve?
- a unified set of treatment targets applicable to all 3 groups
- flexible and responsive to the criminogenic needs to high risk offenders
Success wheel
- represents criminogenic factors, all framed in a positive way to ensure there is more of a strengths focus rather than a deficit issue
Positive relationships
- antisocial peers
- greviance
- lack of intimacy with adults
- sexual jealousy
- feelings of inadequacy
- emotional identification with children
Managing life’s problems
- difficulties solving life problems
- impulsive and unstable lifestyle
- substance abuse
Sense of purpose
- motivates towards desistance
- engaged in employment or constructive activity
- citizenship
Healthy thinking
- attitudes that support: IPV
- the use of violence
- sexualcoffending
Treatment readiness
- a responsivity consideration
- useful to think about the stages of change
Cycle of Change - Prochaska and DiClemente (1993)
- contemplation
Increasing motivation to change…
- capacity to change increased in believe in change-hope
- therapist style
- rolling with resistance
- client led
- motivational interviewing
Challenges?
- people
- environment
