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1) How do you think we can rectify these needs?

The risk need responsivity (RNR) model is used to assess and rehabilitate offenders based on three principles. The risk principle covers two prongs; Firstly, that it is possible to predict crime. Secondly, it is necessary to concentrate on offenders who are determined as high risk. According to the need principle criminogenic needs are critical to the effective design and delivery of effective treatment. The responsivity principle outlines the methodology of treatment  that should be undertaken in order to rehabilitate offenders.
In order to rectify the needs outlined in Table 1, it can be asserted that it is important to assess each individual, taking note of indicators that may testify to a major risk or need. According to the RNR model, during this phase it is also imperative to determine how high the individual's level of reoffending is. This assessment can be completed using a combination of approaches, including risk assessment instruments, which combine the use of things such as, evidence, evidence finding questions and monitoring.
Once the needs of the individual have been identified they can be specifically targeted and then changed, thus positively changing the risk of recidivism. Methods used could include promoting offender responsibility for their actions, challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes through the use of group therapy and activities like recreational activities and hobby groups, the inclusion of drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, individual and group therapy, work and/or school programs, matching the learning style of the offender, introducing prosocial people to the offender through the use of a "pen pal" system and approved, prosocial visitors who have the purpose to introduce/enhance warmth and caring into the offender's life while providing a positive role model and running workshops on issues such as, anger management or building self management skills .

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Thought this might be of interest given the topic this week Tuesday, 12th
July 2016 at 1:08 pm


New Impact Investment Targets Prisoner Reoffending

By Ellie
Cooper, Journalist 

In an
Australian first, the New South Wales Government will target prisoner
reoffending through a new impact investment. 

NSW Treasurer
Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Corrections David Elliott said on Tuesday
the initiative would work with parolees to reduce the rate of reoffending and
reincarceration. 

The
investment will support a new program, On Tracc (Transition Reintegration and
Community Connection), which will work with up to 3,900 parolees over five
years. 

“This program
will support the government’s commitment to reduce reoffending by 5 per cent by
2019,” Elliott said. 

“Rehabilitation
services must continue once an offender is released, to ensure they do not
return to prison. This program is designed to help parolees to reintegrate into
the community and improve community safety.”

On Tracc will
provide parolees with intensive individual support to assist their successful
reintegration into the community, particularly in their first 16 weeks of
parole.

National
Australia Bank and the Australian Community Support Organisation are joint
investors in the program.

“NSW is
leading the way when it comes to social impact investment – and it allows us to
address serious challenges facing our community while harnessing the expertise
of the Not for Profit sector as well as financial support from private
investors,” Berejiklian said. 

Impact
Investing Australia welcomed the government’s announcement and said the model
was a “powerful tool” for addressing some of the most intractable social
challenges. 

“Prisoner
reoffending is a persistent social issue in many countries including Australia.
We are seeing that impact investing provides a unique model for tackling this
issue, and working towards reduced recidivism,” Impact Investing Australia CEO
Daniel Madhavan said. 

“Through its
whole of government policy and innovative transactions, NSW has played a
pioneering role in harnessing impact investment and growing the opportunities
for private capital to work alongside public and philanthropic funds in
delivering measurable positive social outcomes.

“We are
encouraging a more active role for government at all levels to enable and grow
the opportunities impact investment. Without government engagement, the potential
for impact investment in Australia will not be realised.”

Government
payments and returns to investors in this innovative social investment will be
dependent on the outcomes achieved by On Tracc. 

NSW was the
first state to use impact investment, and On Tracc will be its third venture
following the Newpin
and The Benevolent
Society social benefit bonds.

 

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Thought this might be of interest given the topic this week Tuesday, 12th
July 2016 at 1:08 pm


New Impact Investment Targets Prisoner Reoffending

By Ellie
Cooper, Journalist 

In an
Australian first, the New South Wales Government will target prisoner
reoffending through a new impact investment. 

NSW Treasurer
Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Corrections David Elliott said on Tuesday
the initiative would work with parolees to reduce the rate of reoffending and
reincarceration. 

The
investment will support a new program, On Tracc (Transition Reintegration and
Community Connection), which will work with up to 3,900 parolees over five
years. 

“This program
will support the government’s commitment to reduce reoffending by 5 per cent by
2019,” Elliott said. 

“Rehabilitation
services must continue once an offender is released, to ensure they do not
return to prison. This program is designed to help parolees to reintegrate into
the community and improve community safety.”

On Tracc will
provide parolees with intensive individual support to assist their successful
reintegration into the community, particularly in their first 16 weeks of
parole.

National
Australia Bank and the Australian Community Support Organisation are joint
investors in the program.

“NSW is
leading the way when it comes to social impact investment – and it allows us to
address serious challenges facing our community while harnessing the expertise
of the Not for Profit sector as well as financial support from private
investors,” Berejiklian said. 

Impact
Investing Australia welcomed the government’s announcement and said the model
was a “powerful tool” for addressing some of the most intractable social
challenges. 

“Prisoner
reoffending is a persistent social issue in many countries including Australia.
We are seeing that impact investing provides a unique model for tackling this
issue, and working towards reduced recidivism,” Impact Investing Australia CEO
Daniel Madhavan said. 

“Through its
whole of government policy and innovative transactions, NSW has played a
pioneering role in harnessing impact investment and growing the opportunities
for private capital to work alongside public and philanthropic funds in
delivering measurable positive social outcomes.

“We are
encouraging a more active role for government at all levels to enable and grow
the opportunities impact investment. Without government engagement, the potential
for impact investment in Australia will not be realised.”

Government
payments and returns to investors in this innovative social investment will be
dependent on the outcomes achieved by On Tracc. 

NSW was the
first state to use impact investment, and On Tracc will be its third venture
following the Newpin
and The Benevolent
Society social benefit bonds.

 

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Kerrie O'Sullivan

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As stated in numerous readings, first and foremost offenders are still human. Although I believe they should clearly be punished accordingly for their crimes, it is up to the workers of the CJS to help rehabilitate them, get them off a negati9ve path, give them worth or hope and skills to integrate with the wider community. Some offenders offend due to poor education, family breakdowns, boredom or even just feeling as if they are worthless/"worth nothing to no one". Programs in NSW can be implemented as early as school aged children, through such programs as learning support or a teachers aid or behavior management. An older offender committed of drug offenses may benefit for rehab' programs and counseling. They may be using an illicit drug to deal with a mental health problem, an escape from reality or even to lessened some sort of physical pain. By focusing on the offender as a person who needs help, support,education or guidance and by utilizing the many types of programs, facilities and resource, we have a greater chance of reducing offenses and crime. If one does not utilize these programs, one may struggle to make change by themselves. Even if they have just utilized these programs as a support network, this can be the "first step" to changing their behavior,actions,thoughts and emotions in a a positive manner.

Z.H

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We can endeavour to rectify these needs by identifying the needs of individual offenders and recognise that they have these needs prior to just putting the offenders in jail without the assistance that they require.  This can take place before, during and after the court process.  The positive forum that offenders need to see is that their life is worthy of somebody taking an interest and understanding what their life is about, what made them commit the crime in the first place and what is good for them.  A strong positive understanding of an offender’s needs and risks and providing support in those areas is required to enable an offender to understand the rehabilitation process and that it is what is necessary to reduce reoffending for that individual.

With respect to various programs that are offered in NSW, an example is offenders with substance abuse issues could partake in addiction programs that are offered which address the behaviour of the addiction and offer support services to address those behaviours.  This program provides the offender with ways to deal with their abuse issues rather than just go cold turkey and then have to deal with the aftermath of that.  However it should be noted that there are eligibility criteria that must be met so these programs may not be suitable to all offenders and an assessment of each individual is conducted prior to an offender being admitted into the relevant program.

If an offender is noted as being high risk to society then the treatment program designed for that offender will be more intensive than that of a low risk offender.  An assessment of the needs of an offender including criminogenic and non-criminogenic aspects should be taken into account when looking at a program for the offender.

Kerrie O'Sullivan

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How do you think we can rectify these needs?
The Risk-need -responsivity model has been used with increasing success, with a large focus upon

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Week 2, weekly activity
Q. 2 Are there any programs available in NSW that might be useful for addressing them ? use the following website (CSNSW) to answer and justify your response.

NSW corrections provides a comprehensive assortment of treatment programs, that are predominantly grounded in the practice of a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach (CSNSW, P. 3). Mainly, offenders who participate in one or more of these programs, are firstly assessed to determine which is suited their level and chance of 'medium-high' or high risk re-offending. Some offenders whom are deemed low risk may not participate in treatment programs, and offenders who are serving sentences that are for a period of less than one year, may be classed as ineligible to participate in some treatment programs. Overall, the criminogenic risk/needs of an  offender can be matched, dependant on eligibility, to a suitable treatment program, and in reference to offender risks/needs that are shown in Table 1. within Bonta and Andrews paper, the following list of treatment programs may help to address the category of risk/needs provided in the paper.
Table 1. risk/needs
>Antisocial personality pattern: Treatment program, EQUIPS Foundation.
>Substance abuse: Treatment program, Sober driver program (SDP), Criminal Conduct and Substance Abuse Pathways, Intensive drug and alcohol treatment program (IDATP),  Women Yallul Kaliarna (IDATP).
>Family/marital relationships: Treatment programs, Aboriginal Dads and Family (loubiin miyagand) program, Mothering at a distance (MAAD).
>Non criminogenic minor needs.
-Vague feelings of personal distress: Treatment program, EQUPS Foundation. (CSNSW, 2016, P. 5, 9, 18, 20, 28, 77, 79) (Bonta, Andrews, 2007-06, P. 6).
Tania Bridge

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In order to rectify the needs described in table one, an offender’s problem areas need to be targeted correctly in order to be effective, then followed by appropriate treatment strategies. The treatment can be heightened if the treatment strategy ‘pays attention to personal factors that can facilitate learning.’ This may mean that the treatment provider has to teach the offender new behaviours to maximise their learning experience and to possibly break down any mental disorders they may have such as anxiety or depression in order to get the offender to engage in the program fully and gain a successful result. The personality and behaviour disorders service helps correctional centre staff to stabilise problematic inmates and assists the staff in monitoring and planning for each individual inmate. This is helpful as the correctional staff are taught how to address and approach the offenders in a way to ensure the best outcome for the offender. The Individual Violent Offender Intervention Program is another great example of individualised programs to suit violent offenders and the focus on reintegration into society shows a focus on positivity. The Intensive drug and Alcohol Treatment Program is very useful in addressing the substance abuse within offenders as it gives them a deep understanding of their substance abuse and criminal behaviour as well as reducing the risk of reoffending. It also gives offenders the materials and support to adjust back into society.

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Topic 2, weekly activity.
Q. 1 How do you think we can rectify these needs ?
The Risk-Need-Responsivity model is an instrument that is used by prisons and corrections staff, in the assessment and treatment of offenders, according to Bonta and Andrews, there are three key principles that work to bring this RNR model together, to form an effective and practical approach to help in identifying an offenders' Risks, Needs and their "general and specific responsivity" toward rehabilitative treatment (Bonta, Andrews, 2007-06, P. P.1). The need principle within within this model aims to "assess criminogenis needs and target them in treatment" , the model propses that there are particular risk/need derterminants, in which are shown in Table 1 of Bonta and Andrews paper, it is also stated that categorically there are "seven major risk/need factors along with some minor risk need factors" (Bonta, Andrews, 2007-06, P. 6). Moreover, within the course of addressing and or 'rectifying' these 'needs', firstly indicators must be identified, then intervention and treatment should follow. Generally, it has been demonstrated that cognitive social learning interventions can be somewhat successful in 'teaching' offenders to adopt new behaviours. Furthermore, by using "The relationship principle and the structuring principle", it can be ascertained that 'cognitive social learning strategies' are advantageous within the goal of accessing the appropriate treatment, then lastly resulting in an offenders' recidivism rates. Additionally, my belief is that in regards to Table 1 risk/need factors, such as Antisocial personality pattern, substance abuse, family marital relationships, and vague feelings of personal distress, these risk and needs may be treated by a variety of healthcare and  treatment programs that can be accessed by NSW corrections, some of these programs might include drug and alcohol addiction programs, or access to support networks like alcoholics and narcotics anonymous groups,  parenting and domestic violence programs, and afflictions of antisocial personality pattern and vague feelings of personal stress may be treated by  procuring a psychologist who is adapt and experienced in tailoring treatment of offenders in the corrections system.
Tania.