Evidenced-Based Practices in

Juvenile Corrections

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Clarifying Terms

• Best Practices are often based on collective experience and wisdom of the field rather than scientifically tested knowledge

• What Works implies linkage to general outcomes but does not specify the kind of outcomes desired

• Evidenced-Based Practice implies definable outcomes, is measurable and is defined by practical realities

What Are Evidenced Based Practices (EBP)?

EBP focuses on two main questions:

What “works”?• Which types of programming, policies and practices

have been effective in producing positive outcomes (recidivism, post-release employment, cost-benefit)?

For whom does it “work”?• Are there certain types of offenders for whom a

certain type of program or practice is more or less effective?

What Are Evidenced Based Practices?

In corrections: Practices in which an agency systematically finds, appraises, and applies the most current and valid research findings as the basis for developing and implementing targeted interventions and programming proven to reduce recidivism.

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Historical Perspective

Rehabilitation1960s

Just DessertsSentencing Guidelines

1970s

Utilitarian: Mandatory Minimums

1980s

Politicization: Three Strikes

1990s

What Works2000

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Research Foundation for Evidenced Based Practices

In the 1980’s research began to appear supporting the notion that treatment works to reduce recidivism

30+ years of over 500 quality research studies

Many sophisticated meta-analyses

Canada, Europe, and United States

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What Works

Deliver services to higher-risk offenders

Target criminogenic needs – those factors that can change over time

Cognitive-behavioral interventions work best with appropriate offenders

Treatment programs are matched to responsivity

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What Does Not Work with Offenders

Targeting low-risk offenders Deterrence alone without treatment Targeting non-criminogenic needs; i.e., anxiety,

depression, self-esteem Scared straight approaches Insight oriented, psychodynamic, non-directive, or client-

centered therapies Lack of direct training procedures with an absence of

modeling and role-playing

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Essentials of EBP

Measure Outcomes

Engage Ongoing Support

Increase Positive Reinforcement

Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Target Intervention

Enhance Intrinsic Motivation

Assess Offender Risk/Needs

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I. Assess Offender Risk/Needs

Assess Offender Risk/Needs

I. Assess Offender Risk & Need

Dynamic risk factors are linked to criminal behavior and can be changed

• Improved self-control• Increased positive support networks• Engagement in pro-social values• Increased pro-social behaviors• Substance abuse treatment• Reconnection with primary/healthy relationships

I. Assess Offender Risk & Need

Static risk factors that do not predict criminal behavior

• Age• Criminal or delinquent history• Offense

I. Assess Offender Risks and Needs

How do we identity Risk predictors?

Youth Level-of-Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI)

Juvenile Detention Risk Management

Juvenile Sex offender assessments

Chemical assessments

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I. Assess Offender Risk & Need

How do we identify these Need predictors?

Massachusetts Youth Screening Inventory (MAYSI-2 for mental health)

Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT)

Substance Use ScreeningsGambling Screen Personal Experience Screening

Questionnaire (PESQ)

I. Assess Offender Risks and Needs

Actuarial risk to reoffend

Identifies criminogenic needs

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I. Risk Assessment Implementation

Offenders under supervision are assessed to determine their likelihood to reoffend

Determine level of supervision by setting cut off scores

Targets appropriate interventionsDrives the case plan

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II. Enhance Intrinsic Motivation

Enhance Intrinsic Motivation

Assess Offender Risk/Need

II. Enhance Intrinsic Motivation

“The only people who truly welcome change are wet babies”

- Harvey Skinner

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II. Enhance Intrinsic Motivation

Motivational Interviewing

Based on Prochaska’s stages of change: Establishes rapport Assesses readiness to change Centers on engagement and

empowerment Utilizes the change process

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II. Stages of Change

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II. Enhance Offender Motivation

For lasting change to occur, there needs to be a level of intrinsic motivation

Research strongly suggest that motivational interviewing (MI) effectively enhances motivation for initiating and maintaining change behavior.

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III. Target Interventions

Target Interventions

Enhance Intrinsic Motivation

Assess Offender Risk Need

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III. Target Interventions

Responsivity

Need

Risk

III. Target InterventionsRisk

Determine the risk to re-offend through use of validated, reliable “risk assessment” tools

Work with moderate to high risk offenders; leave low risk offenders alone

Use interventions that directly address offender characteristics associated with criminal behavior

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III. Target InterventionsNeed

Criminogenic needs can change over time

Anti-social attitudes, anti-social associates, anti-social thinking patterns, anti-social behaviors i.e., substance abuse

Criminogenic needs are identified through assessment tools and targeted through interventions

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III. Target InterventionsResponsivity

Responsive to temperament, learning style, gender, culture when assigning programs

Matching offender to the appropriate interventions given their risk level and crimnogenic needs

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III. Target Interventions

Relies on motivational interviewing

Targets risk factors that lead to recidivism

SMART case plan goals are:Small, measureable, attainable, realistic, timely

Strength-based

Gender, culturally, developmentally responsive

Follows offender through the system

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IV. Use Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Use Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Target Interventions

Enhance Intrinsic Motivation

Assess Offender Risk/Needs

IV. Use Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Treatment Principles:• Treatment, particularly cognitive-behavioral

(CBT) is most effective with offenders

• Proactive and strategic case planning

• Targeted, timely treatment provides the greatest long term benefit

• Applying treatment to lower risk offenders can have detrimental effects

IV. Use Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Target criminal thinking Use cognitive-behavioral learning approaches

• Modeling• Reinforcement• Role play• Coaching• Structured curricula

Targeted treatment• Sex offender treatment• Chemical dependency treatment

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V. Measure Outcomes

Measure Outcomes

Provide Ongoing Support

Increase Positive Reinforcement

Cognitive Behavioral Interventions

Target Interventions

Enhance Intrinsic Motivation

Assess Offender Risk/Needs

V. Measurement

Are there more effective ways to use taxpayer $ to achieve particular public outcomes

Recidivism is the gold standard for better and for worse

All the EBPs are shown toreduce recidivism

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V. Measures are Tied to Mission

Protect the public by:

Providing for core correctional care Holding offenders accountable Changing offender behavior Restoring justice to victims

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V. Examples of Corrections Outcome Measures

Recidivism while under supervision

Reduction in risk assessment score

Restitution ordered and collected

Recidivism three years post release

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V. Types of MeasurementProgram Evaluation

– Outcome Measures– Performance Measures

Research using quasi or experimental design

Cost Analysis– Cost Utility Analysis– Cost Effectiveness Analysis– Cost/Benefit Analysis

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V. Cost/Benefit Analysis

Evaluation of alternatives according to a comparison of both their costs and benefits when each is measured in monetary terms.

Rigorous economic methodology using compounding and discounting

Alternatives must show benefits in excess of costsUseful when benefits can be readily converted

into monetary values

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Keys to Successful Implementation of EBP’s

Outside In Approach

Adopting research-supported program models

Minimizes “re-inventing the wheel”

Must Implement with fidelity

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Keys to Successful Implementation of EBP’s

Inside Out ApproachDevelop and maintain internal information

controls when implementing new practices

Offender measures

Operational measures

Staff measures

Washington Institute of Public Policywww.wsipp.wa.gov

2006 Washington State faced need to construct several new prisons

Legislature directed Institute to explore the use of evidenced-based options to reduce future need & crime rates

Systematic review of 545 comparison group evaluations of adult, juvenile, prevention programs to reduce crime

Estimated costs and benefits and developed portfolios

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Evidenced Based Programs in Juvenile Cognitive-Behavioral Curricula

Coordination of Services

Functional Family Therapy

Family Integrated Transitions

Multi-Systemic Therapy

Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care 40

Cognitive Behavioral InterventionsAggression Replacement Training (ART)

An example of cognitive-behavioral curriculum

10 weeks, 30 hours

Groups of 10 moderate to high risk youth

3 times/week

Instructor and co-instructor/session

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Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (ART)

Improved attendance with transportation incentives and community locations

Provided by probation officers or private contractors

Anger control, life skills, moral reasoning

Best used when all staff are trained

Program Cost: $785/youth Benefits Minus Costs: $14,660

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Coordination of Services (COS)

13 hours of educational classes

Groups of 10 low risk juvenile offenders and parents

Community outreach component to enable coordination

Delivered by probation officers

Program Cost: $229/youth Benefits minus Cost: $5493

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Functional Family Therapy (FFT)

Structured home-based family intervention for high risk youth

Trained FFT therapists with caseloads of 10 to 12 families

12 visits during a 12 week period

FFT will reduce recidivism if properly implemented

Program Cost: $2,609 Benefits Minus Costs: $33,632

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Family Integrated Transitions (FIT)

Structured home-based family intervention

High-risk youth with the co-occurring mental illness and CD disorders

Integrates Multi-Systemic Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Relapse Prevention, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Caseloads of 4 to 6 families for a 20 week period

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Family Integrated Transitions (FIT)

24/7 availability by therapist

FIT therapist participates on a team with clinicians, psychiatrist

Program Cost: $9,938 Benefits Minus Costs: $36,117

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Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST)

Structured home-based family intervention for high-risk youth

Trained MST therapists with caseload of 4 to 6 families for 16 week period

24/7 availability by therapist

Therapist participates on team of clinicians

Program Cost: $6,416 Benefits Minus Costs: $17,440

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Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC)

Delinquents with chronic disruptive behavior

Used as an alternative to placement

Foster parents - highly trained, ongoing support,

$43.70 savings for every dollar spend

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Victim Offender Mediation (VOM)

Both offender and the victim agree to a face-to-face meeting with a trained, neutral, mediator

Purpose is to discuss the effects of the crime, and to determine what can be done to make amends to the victim and the community

Program Cost: $880 Benefits Minus Costs: $7,067

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Cost shifting

Fidelity

Training, training, and re-training

Organizational reinforcement

Keys to Successful Implementation of EBP’s

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Presented byDeputy Commissioner Chris Bray, Ph.D., LP

Community Services DivisionOctober 2010