Offender's Risk Assessment

To evaluate the offender 's risk level and provide effective treatment for this individual, I would collect as much information about the offender as possible by reviewing case records and conducting observations, interviews, background checks, and a formal evaluation (CITE, 418?). I would use the risk and need scale provided by The Level of Service Inventory-Revised to assess the offender 's criminogenic needs along ten domains, including: personality characteristics, pro-criminal attitudes, substance abuse, and family and marital history. There are several other assessment tools that would be useful throughout the process of evaluation: the PCL-R, the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide, the Historical, Clinical, and the Risk Management Scale.

Next, I would use the big four to assess the convicts antisocial history and look for indicators of antisocial personality pattern through criminal attitudes, impulsiveness, aggression, poor problem solving skills, and psychotic symptoms. I would evaluate the offender 's values, beliefs, and rationalizations for indication of antisocial cognitions that support crime. Furthermore, I would look for antisocial associates that encourage participation in criminal behavior. Through the central eight risk factors, I would collect information regarding the individual 's family and marital circumstances to see if antisocial behavior is rejected or supported. To evaluate the individual 's quality of relationships and performance within social settings, I can look to school and vocation circumstances. I would also consider the offender 's involvement in anti-criminal leisure and recreational activities and look for evidence of

Before intervening through treatment, I need to know if I am working with a special population (substance-abuse offenders, violent offenders, psychopaths, sex offenders, and women) so that I can correctly adjust treatment to meet their needs. Moreover, I need to be aware of the cultural norms of the offender to form a respectful therapeutic alliance. Since the prison is run by the state or federal government, I need to consider that although I work with the prisoners, I work for the prison and the facility is my true client. Therefore, I should remember that the convict may lack trust in me, as a therapist, and may show restrictions participating in therapy because they might see me as an instrument of the court or law enforcement. For a successful rehabilitative program, Andrews and Bonta advocate that the program must "respect the individual, have a psychological theory basis, and should work in junction with the enhancement of preventative service" (YEAR). I would employ cognitive-behavioral therapy because it has shown the most success in various treatment settings (CITE, 423?). CBT aligns with Andrews and Bonta 's RNR model by focusing on the reduction of criminogenic needs. CBT therapy seeks to change the CENTRAL beliefs of the individual 's behavior and incorporates problem solving skills, interpersonal skills training, role-playing, and negotiation skills training (CITE 423 ish). If possible, I would encourage the offender to participate in group therapy in