Risk and needs assessments provide the foundation for understanding an individual’s criminogenic risk and needs, which in turns dictates the level of community supervision the individual requires, and the level and type of supportive services they need to be successful. Responsivity refers to the ways in which those services should be provided in order to be effective. Assessment tools identify needs, but it may be the responsibility of parole or probation officers to identify resources and services that will be responsive to those needs. Coordination with providers and liaisons is key to understanding both service availability and fit.
Learn More About Risk-Based Supervision
Risk-based monitoring tailors the monitoring intensity and frequency with one’s criminogenic risk. Widely accepted as a best practice, risk-based supervision should be used for individuals with mental illness to ensure the least restrictive monitoring appropriate to the individual. Professional administration of a validated risk assessment tool should determine individual risk.
- Center for Court Innovation, Evidence-Based Strategies for Working with Offenders
- PEW, Policy Reforms Can Strengthen Community Supervision
- U.S. Courts, Does the Risk of Recidivism for Supervised Offenders Improve Over Time? Examining Changes in The Dynamic Risk Characteristics for Offenders under Federal Supervision
- Council of State Governments Justice Center, A Ten-Step Guide to Transforming Probation Departments to Reduce Recidivism
- Council of State Governments Justice Center, 50-State Data on Public Safety