Implementing Best Practice In Probation Casework

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Implementing Best Practice In Probation Casework

• Why And How
• Vincent J. Iaria MSW , MPA
• Chief Probation Officer San Diego

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Best Practice

• What is evidence-based practice.
• Interventions for which there is consistent
  scientific evidence showing improved outcomes.

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Evidence-Based Practice Origins

• Medical Profession
• Tradition
• Obsolete knowledge
• What MDs learned in medical school
• What MDs do well
• Patterns gleaned from experience
• Information given by hordes of vendors

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Probation Malpractice?

• Banked caseloads for high risk cases
• Intensive supervision of low risk cases
• Outward bound programs
• Scared straight
• Intensive supervision without treatment.
• DARE programs

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Why Dont We Do Evidence Based Practice

• Difficult to keep track of evidence.
• Evidence is not often clear cut and must be
  interpreted.
• Implementing change is not easy.
• People are trying to mislead you.
• You are trying to mislead you.
• Its hard to compete with a good story.

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What You Can Do To Advance EBP

• Stop treating old ideas as if they were brand
  new
• Be suspicious of breakthrough studies
• Recognize collective brilliance
• Emphasize drawbacks as well as virtues
• Use success and failure stories to illustrate
  sound practice but not in place of research
• Adopt a neutral stance toward ideologies or
  theories

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Implementing Evidenced-based Practice in Probation

• Leadership
• Vision / Mission Statement
• Policy and Procedures
• Policy and Implementation Teams
• System Stakeholders / Collaboration
• Planning
• Communication
• Resources / Budget

• Recruitment and Hiring
• Training
• Performance Management
• Measurement
• Information Management
• Research / Evaluation
• Assessment and Classification
• Case Planning
• Treatment / Programs
• Intermediate Sanctions

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EBP Implementation Requirements
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Guiding Principles Of EBP
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Probation Case Management
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Criminogenic Needs

• Low Self-Control
• Anti-Social Personality
• Anti-Social Values
• Criminal Peers
• Substance Abuse
• Dysfunctional Family

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Maryland Model
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Introduction

• Supervision agencies should adopt behavioral
  management techniques as a goal of the
  organization.
• The behavioral management techniques should refer
  to actions that the staff use to achieve
  offender-related and organizational-related
  outcomes

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Assessment And Planning

• Consider the offenders current stage of change
  in assigning supervision and/or treatment
  services.
• Match the offenders dynamic factors with
  appropriate services.
• The offenders risk factors should determine the
  supervision services.
• The supervision plan should be a behavioral
  contract.
• The behavioral contract should encompass
  supervision requirements, and expected sanctions
  and incentives.
• Use problem-solving techniques with the offender
  to assist learning.
• Alternative behaviors and reactions to triggers.

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Stages of Offender Change
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Offender Behavior Change

• Focus on criminogenic needs (dynamic factors) to
  reduce the Offenders risk of recidivism.
• Improve decision-making in pro-social arenas and
  reduce distorted thinking patterns.
• High-risk offenders should receive intensive (and
  structured) programs and/or services.
• Develop an understanding of the offenders prior
  and current behavior.
• increase offenders own understanding of their
  behavior patterns and the consequences of
  engaging in negative and/or antisocial behavior.

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ResponsivityImpact of matching needs to risk
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Information Tools

• To acquire information about the offender and
  his/her behavior.
• To share information shared with the offender to
  learn about his/her behavior patterns.
• To control the behavior of the offender,
• To provide feedback on his/her behavioral
  patterns.
• To identify informal social controls.
• To identify supportive relationships in the
  community.
• To develop collateral contacts with the
  offenders natural support system to achieve
  pro-social goals for the offender.
• Use drug testing and monitoring techniques (e.g.,
  GPS, house arrest, etc.) To control offender
  behavior and identify patterns.

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Good case planning
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Incentives to Shape Offender Behavior

• use incentives to encourage and reinforce
  pro-social behaviors.
• use incentives in a swift, certain, and
  progressive manner, just like sanctions, to shape
  offender behavior.

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Service Tools

• Supervision agencies should use service
  toolstreatment programsto develop internal
  controls.
• Supervision agencies should use service
  toolstreatment programsbased on the
  criminogenic needs of the offender.

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Offender Types

• Develop minimum supervision standards in the
  form of practice guidelines for different types
  of offenders.
• Ensure that the different standards are based on
  a solid assessment protocol,
• Matches offenders to appropriate treatment and
  supervision services,
• And establishes quarterly goals and objectives
  for the offender to achieve.

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CPAI

• 1. Program Implementation Leadership
• 2. Offender Assessment
• 3. Program Characteristics
• 4. Staff Characteristics
• 5. Evaluation
• 6. Other

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Required Knowledge

• Criminogenic needs and risk factors.
• Evidence-based supervision and treatment
  interventions.
• The process of criminal thinking.
• The stages of individual change.
• Social learning theory and behavior management
  principles.
• Graduated responses to non-compliance.
• Relapse prevention strategies.

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And Skills

• Conducting risk and needs assessments.
• Developing probationer case plans and behavioral
  contracts.
• Motivational enhancement techniques and
  motivational interviewing.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
• Staff supervision and leading change
  (supervisors).

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References

• Reforming California s Juvenile Corrections
  System, Farrell v Hickman (California Department
  of Corrections Rehabilitation)
  http//www.cdcr.ca.gov/DivisionsBoards/DJJ/about/d
  ec1report/4_safety_welfare.pdf
• Implementing Effective Correctional Management of
  Offenders in the Community (Crime and Justice
  Institute) www.cjiinstitute.org
• Evidence-Based Management by Jeffrey Pfeffer
  Robert I. Sutton (Harvard Business Review)
• Preventing Crime What Works, What Doesnt,
  Whats Promising, A Report to the US Congress
  (Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice,
  University of Maryland)
• What Works Bridging the Gap Between Research
  and Correctional Practice (Department of Justice,
  National Institute of Corrections)

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References (Continued)

• Motivational Interviewing Preparing People for
  Change William Miller, Stephen Rollnick (New
  York The Guilford Press)
• Tools of the Trade, A guide to Incorporating
  Science into Practice (National Institute of
  Corrections, Maryland Dept. of Public Safety and
  Correctional Services)
• Psychotherapy, Theory, Research and Practice
  (Publisher Unknown) Transtheoretical Therapy
  Toward a more integrative model of change. J.O.
  Prochaska and C.C. DiClemente