Implementing Best Implementing Best Practice In Probation Practice In Probation

CaseworkCaseworkWhy And HowWhy And How

Vincent J. Iaria MSW , MPAVincent J. Iaria MSW , MPAChief Probation Officer San DiegoChief Probation Officer San Diego

Best PracticeBest Practice

What is evidence-based practice.What is evidence-based practice.– Interventions for which there is Interventions for which there is

consistent scientific evidence showing consistent scientific evidence showing improved outcomes.improved outcomes.

Evidence-Based Practice OriginsEvidence-Based Practice Origins

–

Medical Profession:Medical Profession:– Tradition Tradition – Obsolete knowledgeObsolete knowledge– What MD’s learned in medical schoolWhat MD’s learned in medical school– What MD’s do wellWhat MD’s do well– Patterns gleaned from experiencePatterns gleaned from experience– Information given by hordes of vendorsInformation given by hordes of vendors

Probation Malpractice?Probation Malpractice?

Banked caseloads for high risk casesBanked caseloads for high risk cases Intensive supervision of low risk Intensive supervision of low risk

casescases Outward bound programsOutward bound programs Scared straightScared straight Intensive supervision without Intensive supervision without

treatment.treatment. DARE programsDARE programs

Why Don’t We Do Evidence Based Why Don’t We Do Evidence Based PracticePractice

Difficult to keep track of evidence.Difficult to keep track of evidence. Evidence is not often clear cut and Evidence is not often clear cut and

must be interpreted.must be interpreted. Implementing change is not easy.Implementing change is not easy. People are trying to mislead you.People are trying to mislead you. You are trying to mislead you.You are trying to mislead you. It’s hard to compete with a good It’s hard to compete with a good

story.story.

What You Can Do What You Can Do ToTo Advance EBP Advance EBP Stop treating old ideas as if they Stop treating old ideas as if they

were brand newwere brand new Be suspicious of breakthrough studiesBe suspicious of breakthrough studies Recognize collective brillianceRecognize collective brilliance Emphasize drawbacks as well as Emphasize drawbacks as well as

virtuesvirtues Use success and failure stories to Use success and failure stories to

illustrate sound practice but not in illustrate sound practice but not in place of researchplace of research

Adopt a neutral stance toward Adopt a neutral stance toward ideologies or theoriesideologies or theories

Implementing Evidenced-based Implementing Evidenced-based Practice in ProbationPractice in Probation

LeadershipLeadership Vision / Mission Vision / Mission

StatementStatement Policy and ProceduresPolicy and Procedures Policy and Policy and

Implementation TeamsImplementation Teams System Stakeholders / System Stakeholders /

CollaborationCollaboration PlanningPlanning CommunicationCommunication Resources / BudgetResources / Budget

Recruitment and HiringRecruitment and Hiring TrainingTraining Performance Performance

ManagementManagement MeasurementMeasurement Information Information

ManagementManagement Research / EvaluationResearch / Evaluation Assessment and Assessment and

ClassificationClassification Case PlanningCase Planning Treatment / ProgramsTreatment / Programs Intermediate SanctionsIntermediate Sanctions

EBP Implementation RequirementsEBP Implementation Requirements

Guiding Principles Of EBPGuiding Principles Of EBP

Probation Case ManagementProbation Case Management

Criminogenic NeedsCriminogenic Needs

Low Self-ControlLow Self-Control Anti-Social PersonalityAnti-Social Personality Anti-Social ValuesAnti-Social Values Criminal PeersCriminal Peers Substance AbuseSubstance Abuse Dysfunctional FamilyDysfunctional Family

Maryland ModelMaryland Model

IntroductionIntroduction

Supervision agencies should adopt Supervision agencies should adopt behavioral management techniques behavioral management techniques as a goal of the organization. as a goal of the organization.

The behavioral management The behavioral management techniques should refer to actions techniques should refer to actions that the staff use to achieve that the staff use to achieve offender-related and organizational-offender-related and organizational-related outcomesrelated outcomes

Assessment And PlanningAssessment And Planning Consider the offender’s current stage of change Consider the offender’s current stage of change

in assigning supervision and/or treatment in assigning supervision and/or treatment services.services.

Match the offender’s dynamic factors with Match the offender’s dynamic factors with appropriate services.appropriate services.

The offender’s risk factors should determine the The offender’s risk factors should determine the supervision services.supervision services.

The supervision plan should be a behavioral The supervision plan should be a behavioral contract.contract.

The behavioral contract should encompass The behavioral contract should encompass supervision requirements, and expected supervision requirements, and expected sanctions and incentives. sanctions and incentives.

Use problem-solving techniques with the offender Use problem-solving techniques with the offender to assist learning.to assist learning.

Alternative behaviors and reactions to triggers.Alternative behaviors and reactions to triggers.

Stages of Offender ChangeStages of Offender Change

Offender Behavior ChangeOffender Behavior Change

Focus on criminogenic needs (dynamic factors) to Focus on criminogenic needs (dynamic factors) to reduce the Offender’s risk of recidivism.reduce the Offender’s risk of recidivism.

Improve decision-making in pro-social arenas and Improve decision-making in pro-social arenas and reduce distorted thinking patterns.reduce distorted thinking patterns.

High-risk offenders should receive intensive (and High-risk offenders should receive intensive (and structured) programs and/or services.structured) programs and/or services.

Develop an understanding of the offender’s prior Develop an understanding of the offender’s prior and current behavior.and current behavior.

increase offender’s own understanding of their increase offender’s own understanding of their behavior patterns and the consequences of behavior patterns and the consequences of engaging in negative and/or antisocial behavior.engaging in negative and/or antisocial behavior.

ResponsivityResponsivityImpact of matching needs to riskImpact of matching needs to risk

Information ToolsInformation Tools To acquire information about the offender and To acquire information about the offender and

his/her behavior.his/her behavior. To share information shared with the offender to To share information shared with the offender to

learn about his/her behavior patterns.learn about his/her behavior patterns. To control the behavior of the offender,To control the behavior of the offender, To provide feedback on his/her behavioral To provide feedback on his/her behavioral

patterns.patterns. To identify informal social controls.To identify informal social controls. To identify supportive relationships in the To identify supportive relationships in the

community.community. To develop collateral contacts with the offender’s To develop collateral contacts with the offender’s

natural support system to achieve pro-social natural support system to achieve pro-social goals for the offender.goals for the offender.

Use drug testing and monitoring techniques (e.g., Use drug testing and monitoring techniques (e.g., GPS, house arrest, etc.) To control offender GPS, house arrest, etc.) To control offender behavior and identify patterns.behavior and identify patterns.

Good case planningGood case planning

Incentives to Shape Offender Incentives to Shape Offender BehaviorBehavior

use incentives to encourage and use incentives to encourage and reinforce pro-social behaviors.reinforce pro-social behaviors.

use incentives in a swift, certain, and use incentives in a swift, certain, and progressive manner, just like progressive manner, just like sanctions, to shape offender sanctions, to shape offender behavior.behavior.

Service ToolsService Tools

Supervision agencies should use Supervision agencies should use service tools—treatment programs—service tools—treatment programs—to develop internal controls.to develop internal controls.

Supervision agencies should use Supervision agencies should use service tools—treatment programs—service tools—treatment programs—based on the criminogenic needs of based on the criminogenic needs of the offender.the offender.

Offender TypesOffender Types Develop minimum supervision Develop minimum supervision

standards in the form of practice standards in the form of practice guidelines for different types of guidelines for different types of offenders.offenders.– Ensure that the different standards are Ensure that the different standards are

based on a solid assessment protocol,based on a solid assessment protocol,– Matches offenders to appropriate Matches offenders to appropriate

treatment and supervision services,treatment and supervision services,– And establishes quarterly goals and And establishes quarterly goals and

objectives for the offender to achieve.objectives for the offender to achieve.

CPAI CPAI

1. Program Implementation & 1. Program Implementation & LeadershipLeadership

2. Offender Assessment2. Offender Assessment

3. Program Characteristics3. Program Characteristics

4. Staff Characteristics4. Staff Characteristics

5. Evaluation5. Evaluation

6. Other6. Other

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.

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).

ReferencesReferences Reforming California’ s Juvenile Corrections Reforming California’ s Juvenile Corrections

System, Farrell v Hickman (California Department System, Farrell v Hickman (California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation) of Corrections & Rehabilitation) http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/DivisionsBoards/DJJ/about/dhttp://www.cdcr.ca.gov/DivisionsBoards/DJJ/about/dec1report/4_safety_welfare.pdfec1report/4_safety_welfare.pdf

Implementing Effective Correctional Management Implementing Effective Correctional Management of Offenders in the Community (Crime and Justice of Offenders in the Community (Crime and Justice Institute) Institute) www.cjiinstitute.orgwww.cjiinstitute.org

Evidence-Based Management by Jeffrey Pfeffer & Evidence-Based Management by Jeffrey Pfeffer & Robert I. Sutton (Harvard Business Review)Robert I. Sutton (Harvard Business Review)

Preventing Crime: What Works, What Doesn’t, Preventing Crime: What Works, What Doesn’t, What’s Promising, A Report to the US Congress What’s Promising, A Report to the US Congress (Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, (Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland)University of Maryland)

What Works: Bridging the Gap Between Research What Works: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Correctional Practice (Department of Justice, and Correctional Practice (Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections)National Institute of Corrections)

References (Continued)References (Continued)

Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change William Miller, Stephen Rollnick (New Change William Miller, Stephen Rollnick (New York: The Guilford Press)York: The Guilford Press)

Tools of the Trade, A guide to Incorporating Tools of the Trade, A guide to Incorporating Science into Practice (National Institute of Science into Practice (National Institute of Corrections, Maryland Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, Maryland Dept. of Public Safety and Correctional Services)Correctional Services)

Psychotherapy, Theory, Research and Practice Psychotherapy, Theory, Research and Practice (Publisher Unknown) “Transtheoretical Therapy: (Publisher Unknown) “Transtheoretical Therapy: Toward a more integrative model of change.” J.O. Toward a more integrative model of change.” J.O. Prochaska and C.C. DiClementeProchaska and C.C. DiClemente