Lecture 8: Correctional Programming Flashcards
What are some of the goals and outcomes of correctional programming in Canada?
The main goal of programming is to reduce reoffending. The gold standard outcome is also recidivism (rate, seriousness, time to failure). Other outcomes include: decreased institutional incidents, increased discretionary release, increased program participation, increased compliance with supervisor.
What is the need principle and how does it apply to correctional programming?
-The need principle refers to what should be targeted in programming. Offender’s criminogenic (i.e., predicts criminal behaviour and is dynamic) needs should be targeted (e.g., procriminal attitudes, which is very important). Changes in criminogenic needs are associated with changes in criminal behaviour and reduces recidivism. The needs make up the content of correctional programming.
What are the four principles of appropriate programming? Specifically, how does consideration of these principles affect program effectiveness? Which principle yields the greatest reduction in reoffending?
- The principles are risk, need and responsivity.
- Risk refers to matching services (intensity and dosage) to the risk level of the offender. More intensive programming should be reserved for higher-risk individuals (low-risk offenders actually do worse if they are given high-intensity services and the very highest risk offenders may not respond to programming). 200 hours is considered appropriate for moderate-risk offenders.
- The need principle refers to what should be targeted in programming (see above)
- The responsivity principle is about facilitating change and matching intervention style (general and specific) to the offender’s style of learning. Responsivity principle is all about creating the most effective learning (change) environment for our clients. The first step is to build a relationship with the client (relationship factor- influence is greatest when relationship is open, warm, genuine, mutual respect etc.) and the second step is structuring on evidence-based interactions and exercises (structuring factor- direction of influence from procriminal to prosocial is determined by content of messages, behaviour modeled, practiced and appropriate use of rewards and costs).
What are 2 issues relating to program integrity? How does program integrity impact effectiveness?
- Selection and training of staff
- Design and implementation issues Clinical supervision
- Standardized manuals
- Monitoring of service (doing what you say)
- Monitoring of change (is it working)
- Adequate dosage/ duration/ intensity
- Evaluation
- If the program does not consider these integrity issues then the effects of the program are poor. All of the integrity issues are imbedded into an audit called the correctional programming assessment inventory
What are the components of the Transition model?
The transition model is a model that bridges RNR and desistance. The transitional model aims to target risk acquisition factors instead of facilitating crime desistance. The pathways to crime inform treatment. The main point of the transitional model is getting involved in crime is a different process that getting out of crime (protective factors are not the absence of risk factors). Crime desistance is the transition into success. The transition between involvement in crime and exiting crime involves changing thought patterns.
What 2 key internal and external factors in client change?
- Internal: Agency and self-efficacy
- External: proactive supervision and supportive community
Why is motivation of interest in offender programming?
Motivation is the readiness to change and the recognition of a problem. It is important because it is correlated with recidivism rates, that is when offenders are motivated they are less likely to return to custody. Motivation is addressed to assess drop outs (most common reason to drop out of programming was lack of motivation and drop out is associated with more recidivism), and to improve compliance with correctional plan. Motivation is related to program attrition (entry, expulsion, dropout). Motivation is not only an offender characteristic, but also a staff characteristic.
Provide an example of correctional quackery.
- The issue about correctional quackery is whether they should be primary interventions (may be appropriate for personal change within the individual but does not target criminogenic needs). Some examples include therapy pets, music/drama/art/horticulture, Acupuncture, video shown in class, the evidence supporting these models are virtually non-existent.
What was the impact of the dark ages?
1st – Goal of Change?
- Punishment to suppress!
2nd - Who can/cannot change?
- Criminal can’t change! They are evil, warped,untreatable, psychopaths! Change the system! Laws, Sentencing, Correctional Systems.
3rd – What needs to change?
- Crime pays so make it costly! Make the costs of crime higher!
4th – How to facilitate change?
- Deterrence & Just Deserts, Zero Tolerance! Mandatory & Lengthy sentences! Lock ‘em up & throw away the key!
What are the commandments of Moses (a.k.a Don Andrews)
- Goal of change is to reduce re-offending.
- Changing who: Risk Principle – “those most antisocial”.
- Changing what: Need Principle - keep the focus on offending.
- Through the process of Responsivity Principle – how do they learn.
What kind of effect do the RNR principles have on recidivism?
~28% reduction in re-offending. The responsivity is associated with the greatest reduction in recidivism.
What are the cognitive living skills that are targetted in programming?
- Self-control
- Interpersonal Problem Solving
- Cognitive Style
- Social Perspective-taking
- Values
- Critical Reasoning
What is the CPAI?
- The correctional programming assessment inventory
- field moving towards audit approach, if you don’t pass the audit there won’t be funding for your program (don’t want to spend taxpayers money on ineffective programs)
- Total CPAI score or program integrity accounts for 7-18% of variation in treatment effects.
- Correlations between CPAI scores and outcome (r =.33 for return to prison)
What kind of skills do the staff need?
- Ability to adhere to structured programming and tailor content to be responsive to individual’s needs.
- Ability to work well as part of a team.
- Ability to develop rapport with offender, yet set boundaries.
- Fundamental skills: fair but firm, empathic, good interpersonal skills
- Provide training & support
What influences offender change?
- Treatment model (15%)
- Client factors (40%)
- Therapeutic alliance (30%)
- Expectancy/hope (15%)
