NCJ Number
237430
Date Published
April 2009
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This instructional material for jail managers focuses on the following issues in risk assessment: who should be assessed, when they should be assessed, who should conduct the assessment, what information the assessment provides, and the resources that will be needed for assessments.
Abstract
A flow chart is presented to show the various processing stages from arrest through pretrial jail detention/postconviction jail sentence, and transition planning for release from jail into the community. Decision points for risk assessment are noted, along with the type of assessment and assessment tools needed. This is followed by a chart of "Universal Screening Tools," which are used for quick risk screening that identifies lower risk offenders without the inefficient expenditure of time and resources on more extensive assessment or programming. For each assessment tool, the chart provides the name, cost, time involved in completing the interview, inventory items, instrument result, and "additional information." Another chart provides the same information for instruments that assess criminogenic risk/need. The purpose of these instruments is to provide a full actuarial assessment of offender risk/needs for identifying treatment targets. A third chart provides the aforementioned information on risk-assessment tools for specialized assessments for populations that are dually diagnosed or have special need. These instruments provide detailed information and identify treatment targets in specific areas of need. Next, a chart is presented to show "triage" by risk, need, and level of supervision (LOS). This chart shows risk/needs (low, medium or high) and the types of supervision resources that should be provided for a short term (72 hours or less), medium (3-30 days), and long (31 days and more) jail incarceration. The publication concludes with five suggestions for major areas of treatment most likely to impact recidivism rates for inmate populations.