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Evidence Based Practices and

Risk-Need-Responsivity The Problem Solving Court Context

Sarah Fritsche, Center for Court Innovation

Presented at the 2014 Oklahoma Specialty Court Conference, Norman, OK, September 11, 2014

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Everyone is asking for them, so what are

Evidence Based Practices?

Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) are approaches which have been empirically researched and proven to have measureable positive outcomes. In the context of problem solving courts, this typically means they reduce general recidivism, but other indicators of success include incarceration reductions, reduced costs or increased efficiency, community restoration, and improved social or health outcomes.

Defining Evidence Based Practice

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While a great deal of attention has been paid to Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) in recent years, there is an established tradition of other evidence based practices in problem solving courts:

o Procedural Justice

o Focused Deterrence Efforts

o Collaboration

Established EBPs

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Beginning in 1970s, a trend in criminological thinking that “nothing works” to rehabilitate offenders took root, as reflected in this famous quote by Robert Martinson:

With few and isolated exceptions, the rehabilitative efforts that have been reported so far have had no appreciable effect on recidivism … our present strategies cannot overcome, or even appreciably reduce, the powerful tendencies of offenders to continue in criminal behavior. (Martinson, 1974)

Risk-Need-Responsivity theory has played a central role in discrediting the “nothing works” perspective, and thereby revitalizing the movement for rehabilitation.

Why the Hype about RNR?

Besides an evidence based practice, what is “Risk-Need-Reponsivity”?

o Risk-Need-Responsivity Theory (RNR)• Evolution and Defining Principles of RNR theory • A closer look at risk, need, and responsivity

o Risk and Need Principles in Practice• Evidence Based Screening and Assessment• Applying assessment results to supervision &

treatmento Cautionary Notes

• Applying RNR in context

Today’s Agenda

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Risk need responsivity theory is based primarily on theories

of behavioral psychology and is intended to support efforts

at crime prevention through providing services targeted

toward individual “criminogenic” risk factors.

Within the social science literature, “criminogenic” simply means that the need or risk factor has been statistically associated with future offending.

Risk Need Responsivity Theory

Risk-Need-Responsivity Principles

o Risk PrincipleMatch the level of service to the individual’s risk to re-offend. There is growing support in the research for reserving treatment resources for higher risk offenders.

o Need PrincipleAssess each person for known criminogenic needs and target treatment based on their most salient needs.

o Responsivity PrincipleMaximize the potential success of rehabilitative intervention by providing cognitive behavioral treatment and tailoring the intervention to the learning style, “secondary” needs, motivation, and strengths of the offender.

A Closer Look at the Risk Principle

Risk Principle: Vary treatment intensity by risk (defined as risk of re-offending absent intervention).

High- or Medium-Risk: Target for intensive treatment.

Low-Risk: Use less intensive intervention. Treatment can be counter-productive:

o Removes offenders from work and school

o Surrounds offenders with moderate or high risk peers, while potentially removing them from low risk peers

o Deepens criminal justice involvement (potential for negative labeling and negative effects on self-concept)

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Why is assessing “criminogenic risk” so

important?

Multisite Ohio Study: High-RiskTreatment Effects For High Risk Offenders

-34

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2 3 3 35 6 7 8 8 9 10 10

12 12 12 13 13 1315

21 2224 25

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Note: Data from Lowenkamp, C. T., and Latessa, E. J. 2002. Evaluation of Ohio’s Community Based Correctional Facilities and Halfway House Programs. Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati. Source for Slide: Latessa (2011)

27 of 35 programs produce positive effects

Multisite Ohio Study: Low-Risk

Note: Data from Lowenkamp, C. T., and Latessa, E. J. 2002. Evaluation of Ohio’s Community Based Correctional Facilities and Halfway House Programs. Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati. Source for Slide: Latessa (2011)

23 of 34 programs produce negative effects

New York Drug Courts: Risk Level

Quintile 1: Low Risk Quintile 4: High-Risk

-4%

-2%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

-3%

9%

Effect Size by Offender Risk Level: Dif-ference in Three-Year Re-Arrest Rate

Source for Slide: Cissner et al. (2012)

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What are the “Known” Criminogenic Risk factors?

Criminogenic Risk and Need Factors (the “big 8”)

1. Criminal History (static)

2. Antisocial Personality Pattern (dynamic )

3. Pro-criminal Attitudes (dynamic)

4. Social Supports for Crime (dynamic )

5. Substance Abuse (dynamic)

6. School/Work Failure (dynamic)

7. Family or Relationship Problems (dynamic)

8. Lack of Pro-social Activities (dynamic)

A Closer Look At the Need Principle

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Need Principle: Assess and target criminogenic needs for treatment—needs that, if left unmet, lead to criminal re-offending.

Returning to the “Big 8” what can/should be treated? (in theory everything except criminal history): Criminal Thinking, Antisocial Personality Pattern, Social Supports for Crime, Substance Abuse, School or Work Problems, Family or Marital Problems, Lack of Pro-Social Recreation.

Evidence-based Interventions

Cognitive-behavioral interventions have been shown to be effective treatment for criminal thinking, antisocial behavior patterns and other criminogenic needs including substance abuse.

CBT Interventions Focus on: The Present: current people, places, and behaviors Thinking Errors: external locus of control, sense of hopelessness, sense of

victimization Cognitive Restructuring: effort to disrupt the automatic thoughts &

feelings that lead to (e.g.) crime and drug use

A recent Meta-Analysis* found moderate to strong effects for commonly used CBT interventions such as “Reasoning and Rehabilitation” and “Thinking for Change.”**See Lipsey, M.W., Landenberger, N. A.Wilson, S.J. (2007). Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Programs for Criminal Offenders. Oslo, Norway: Campbell Collaboration.

A Closer Look at the Responsivity Principle

Even they don’t make the “Big 8,” there are many other needs that greatly affect individual well-being and can mitigate the effectiveness of intervention. The importance of assessing and treating these needs is acknowledged by the “responsivity principle.”

Mental Illness Trauma historyCognitive or Developmental problems

The responsivity principle also recommends we consider strengths in our program development such as motivation for change, different learning styles and strong social supports for recovery.

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Evidence Based Screening and Assessment

o Evidence-based Assessment is typically a 2-step process. • Step 1: A short screen is conducted to identify overall

risk-level and to flag primary criminogenic needs.• Step 2: If the defendant/offender flags on some dynamic

needs, longer assessment may be indicated.

o The two step nature of assessment is particularly important for the court context, given time and resource constraints.

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Selecting Evidence-based Tools

Things to keep in mind…

• Previously validated instruments (like LSI-R and COMPAS) provide immediate capacity to reliably sort offenders into risk categories, but also have their downsides (long, proprietary, developed for specific populations).

• Some assessment systems offer separate screeners and full assessments.

• “Validated” vs. “Evidence Based” and “Domains” vs. “Questions”-- what really matters?

• Consider the pros and cons of adopting/adapting an instrument already in use by local justice system or community partners.

• Consider a research/practitioner for dynamic assessment purposes.

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What does “validated” mean and which tools qualify?See assessment digest for details….

o RANT: Risk and Needs Triage (TRI, 2009)o The Level of Services Inventory (LSI-R) (Andrews and

Bonta, 1994) oCorrectional Offender Management Profiling for

Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) (Northpointe, Inc. 2000s)

oOhio Risk Assessment System (ORAS) (University of Cincinnati, early 2000s)

o Texas Christian University Screening Tools (Various)

Selecting Evidence-based Tools

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o Apply the risk principle (i.e., reserve most intensive supervision and treatment for high risk clients).• Important for court settings: this process usually includes

education across court stakeholders and staff to establish buy-in.

o Assess for the availability and feasibility of integrating CBT or other evidence based programs into court practice.

o Partner with treatment agencies.

Integrating Assessment Results into Case Management and

Treatment Planning

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o Evidence based practice is sensitive to local context

o This applies to RNR, as well as to other EBPso Specific to RNR: need for local validation and resource mapping

o Common misunderstandings regarding evidence-based practice and assessments

o The Ecologoical Fallacy (group versus individual prediction)o Validated assessment tools should or will completely replace

professional judgment.

o Non-criminogenic factors are not relevant to correctional

treatment.

Cautionary Notes

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o Evidence-based Assessment in Drug Courts (study of the LSI-R)

o Validity of the COMPAS assessment in MH Courts

o Risk Assessment for Police-led Diversion

o Misdemeanor Evidence-based Assessment (“MEBA”)

• Includes intervention development and evaluation

Risk-Need Assessment Research at the Center for Court Innovation

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Direct further questions to:Sarah Picard-Fritsche

fritsches@courtinnovation.org646-386-5911

Q & A