Offender Treatment Flashcards
Who commits offences ?
a diverse group of people commit offences.
offending exists in a dynamic state, fluid within an offender and fluid within the context it occurs within and resulting from the interaction of the two.
therefore requires individual formulation to lead to personally tailored treatment focus and targets.
who influences the rehabilitation agenda?
- social agendas
- political agendas
- treatment agencies from the forensic area
- evidence form other disciplines/philosophical positions
models of assessment and treatment
Risk-Need-Responsivity model (1998)
Good lives model (2003)
Desistance Research
Risk-Need-Responsivity Model (RNR)
Andrews and Bonta (1998)
Rehab Theory
- RISK PRINCIPLE- match level of risk to level of treatment received
- NEED PRINCIPLE - primarily target criminogenic need
- RESPONSIVITY PRINCIPLE- he programmes ability make sense to those in receipt of it
RNR strengths
proven effectiveness and lower reductivism rates—reduction in reoffending rates in general and sexual offenders of 10-50%
BUT
outcome studies are disappointing
there are problems with implementation
there are concerns about both programme quality and programme provision, delivery fidelity and treatment integrity.
RNR weaknesses
- mechanistic (theories which explain phenomena in purely physical or deterministic terms)
- fails to consider contextual factors in both offending and rehab
- offender responsivity and offender motivation lacking attention
- offenders are seen as disembodied bearers of risk
- fails to provide an integrated and holistic approach
- reductionist approach (doesn’t approach personal identity)
- ignores importance of human needs and their role in offending behaviour.
-does not emphasise the therapeutic relationship and therapist factors and attitudes to offenders
emphasis on negative or avoidant treatment goals.
Good life model
empirically and theoretically grounded rehab approach, originating from sex offender treatment field
a strengths based approach
attention is given more widely to the offenders life than just offence specific behaviours
promotes the attainment of broader life goals in prosocial ways with the aim of personal fulfilment.
Human rights emphasised with emphasis on respect and dignity
emphasises offender motivation and the role of personal identity, instillation of hope and inculcation of belief in possibility of pro-social, non-criminal identities in the future
GLM
good life attained by understanding what is important to client and helping client to obtain these goals
risk managed by helping client to attain what is important in life
risk managed by changing and monitoring known risk factors
both attained by overcoming obstacles and developing capacity.
GLM approach-AIMS OF TREATMENT
develop a plan for life that is meaningful to the individual and that will also manage risk
establish positive approach goals and work toward building skillsand external oppurtunities to attain these
AIMS OF SUPERVISION
monitor implementation of good life plan in addition to risk
good life plan - WEAKNESSES
GLM proposes that offending, life problems, result from flaws,implementing good life plans
goal of treatments to identify and resolve flaws, develop capacity to attain goods
four types of problems; -means - conflict among goals/goods sought - lack of scope lack of capacity (internal and external)
GLM- components
ESTABLISHMENT ND THERAPY AND GROUP NORMS-emphasis on motivating offenders by a focus on things that are important to them and starts a process of reflection on their lives and overarching commitments/values leading to consideration of a pro-social identity.
UNDERSTANDING OF OFFENDING/RESTRUCTURING OFFENCE SUPPORTIVE BELIEFS-overarching goal is that of knowledge in this instance, also of relatedness.Development of a good lives blueprint for the offender is generated collaboratively.
what happens to the client
depends on treatment approach
deficit based approach demotivating
defensiveness,denial, lying- all exist on a continuum and occur fluidly and alter in different contexts
anxiety and stress occur in treatment.victim empathy work is noted to be a critical treatment module for these issues to arise.
what happens to the therapist
weight and impact of hearing many, often abhorrent, narratives, both in the immediacy of hearing and over time.
difficulties in adhering to a treatment model
highly complex level of understanding and skill required to respond flexibly to this complex client group is challenging to all.
what is the role of the forensic psychologist in treatment
depends very much on treatment model used
depends on treatment context
role has evolved and developed over the yeas
trainee FP’s may co-facilitate RNR style programmes
qualified non-psychology staff become group facilitators and supervision falls to FP’s to maintain programme integrity and treatment protocols.
conclusions
Risk-need approach should be embedded within a more constructive strengths based perspective , such as the GLM
provide a framework for integrating aspects of effective treatment; risk, goals, therapeutic alliance, motivation, meaning, ecology and capability building (values and skills)
twin focus; goods promotion and risk management
