Offender Risk Assessment

Guercio. (2015). Offender risk assessment: Tools & methodologies. Oilweek, , 20.

In this article Guercio (2015) discusses that the use of risk assessment tools provides a way to differentiate offenders based on offenders' risk to re-offend and can suggests sentencing and rehabilitation services to reduce recidivism. In the past risk assessments were primarily used on parole decisions, over the years it as become a tool that assist in the decision making process of pre-trial release risk, probations supervision intensity and content, early release decisions, and sentencing design.

I am using this article to help support my paper on the benefits derived from risk assessments. These assessments allow correctional workers the ability to implement

(2009). Psychological Assessment, 21(1), 1-21. doi:10.1037/a0014421

In this article, the writer chooses to highlight the various risk assessment models used with sexual offenders and the impact it has on recidivism. Throught the various models, it is shown that either a statistical approach is utilized, or one involving professional judgements and evaluations. By using both types of models, one can base a prediction of some kind on how high or low the risk will be to repeat offend. It was also found that unstructured studies and models were far less accurate in the prediction of recidivism versus studies or models which used empirical data.

I have chosen to include this in my article to highlight the fact that there are scientific studies being conducted on recidivism rates. The source utilized will highlight the categories used to determine if an offender will make a repeat offense, and what can be done to reduce these factors. I will also show that unstructured models are not as efficient as empirical data when forecasting whether an individual will repeat offend or

M., & Morani, N. (2012). Recidivism among participants of a reentry program for prisoners released without supervision. Social Work Research, 36(4), 289-299. doi:10.1093/swr/svs021

This article focuses on a prisoner reentry program known as Project Re-Connect (PRC). The purpose of this article was to show how with proper assistance, prisoners who were released from their sentences could reintegrate back into society given the proper assistance. The article also touches on reentry programs and some of the shortcomings or successes that they have had.

I have selected this article as a source due to the positive implications a thorough reentry program can have. By carefully planning, and executing a thorough program, recidivism rates can be reduced and help offenders became productive members of society. It is often through our own doing, that by not having the proper programs in place and forgetting, or ignoring, individuals who have been released from correctional facilities; that we will see recidivism continue to rise and repeat offenses being