NCJ Number
214747
Date Published
2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report presents the evaluation findings for the second pilot testing (November 1999 through April 2000) of Great Britain's Offender Assessment System (OASys), which was developed to assess offending-related needs, the likelihood of reconviction, and the risk of serious harm.
Abstract
The evaluation recommends testing consistency between different assessors and the monitoring of the quality of risk of serious-harm assessments and sentence plans. On average, the OASys identified 3.8 of the 10 needs assessed. The average number of needs was higher for female offenders (4.0), offenders in prison (5.0), and those convicted of burglary (5.4). The risk/needs profile was lower for offenders over 40 years old (3.2), South-Asian offenders (2.9), and those convicted of fraud (2.4). The risk for serious harm was assessed as low for 53 percent of offenders, medium for 36 percent, and high for 11 percent. The risk for serious harm was highest for offenders in prison; those over 40 years old; and those convicted of violent, sexual, and criminal damage offenses. OASys scores were found to be a good predictor of reconvictions; 26 percent of those rated as a law risk for reconviction were reconvicted within 24 months, compared with 58 percent rated as of medium likelihood for reconvictions and 87 percent rated as high risk. Drug misuse and housing were the offending-related needs most predictive of reconviction. Alcohol misuse, emotional well-being, and thinking and behavior were the least predictive. A total of 2,031 offenders were assessed from 17 Prison Services establishments and 11 probation service areas. Criminal conviction data were collected from the Police National Computer to determine whether offenders were reconvicted following release from prison or from the start of a community sentence. 3 tables and 4 references