José B. Ashford

Generic Correctional Programming for Mentally Ill Offenders A Pilot Study

This pilot study examined differences in criminal attitudes and hostile attribution biases among three groups of offenders diagnosed with serious mental disorders. It also compared the criminal outcomes for a sample of mentally ill offenders (MIOs) who completed a modified version of the Options cognitive skills program with a treatment-as-usual sample of MIOs. Results showed that pre- and posttest change scores for the Overgeneralization subscale of the Hostile Interpretations Questionnaire (HIQ), the Identification with Criminal Others subscale of the Criminal Sentiments Scale—Modified (CSS-M), and the HIQ Authority subscale differed between the groups of offenders with serious mental disorders. Participants identified for treatment by the pilot program (intended treatment group) and participants who completed the entire intervention had fewer arrests, including fewer arrests for violent offenses, but had higher technical probation violations than a treatment-as-usual comparison group.

Problem Solving in Social Work Practice: Implications for Knowledge Utilization:

An examination of the way in which social workers use knowledge suggests an instrumental approach to knowledge use. This approach has important implications for moving the profession toward greater accountability in the practice of social work. Unless educators can motivate practitioners to change the way in which they ask questions and make predictions, it is unlikely that practitioners will use scientific information in their problem-solving processes.

Comparing the Effects of Judicial Versus Child Protective Service Relationships on Parental Attitudes in the Juvenile Dependency Process

This pilot study examined the attitudes of parents in the child dependency process to determine whether their perceptions of fairness, trustworthiness, and satisfaction with the juvenile dependency system differed across types of relationships: relationships with judges or child protective service (CPS) workers. Method: The study relied on a convenience sample of (N = 40) parents who were administered structured interviews with Likert-type items after being in relationships with the authorities for 6 months. Results: The findings supported the studys hypotheses about the nature of the relationships in the family drug court process and the relative contributions of relational versus self-interest factors in explaining variations in parental attitudes. Discussion and Applications to Practice: The implications of the studys findings were examined regarding the roles played by CPS case managers in improving compliance with substance abuse treatment in the dependency process.

Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire: Testing Alternative Measurement Models With Assaultive Misdemeanor Offenders

The Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BP-AQ) is a 29-item, four-factor instrument that measures physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility. A large number of competing versions of the original BP-AQ have been proffered in the literature, but testing with aggressive offenders is limited. The present study used confirmatory factor analysis to compare the fit of seven models with a sample of 246 men and women who pled guilty to misdemeanor aggressive offenses. The study found two similar parsimonious 12-item versions of the four-factor BP-AQ that outperformed the other models and fit the data well while retaining acceptable reliability. Taken together, superior psychometric properties, acceptable reliability, and reduced item-burden are properties that clearly support the usage of either of these 12-item versions. The relative merits of these shorter versions of the BP-AQ are examined and implications for their use in applied contexts and further research are considered.

Juvenile parole policy in the united states: Determinate versus indeterminate models

This paper presents an overview of eight approaches in juvenile parole policy for terminating, extending, and discharging youths from juvenile parole or aftercare. These types were derived from the results of a national survey of juvenile parole policy in the United States. This survey was sent to the departments of correction, youth service bureaus, and legislative service agencies for the 50 states. The survey sought comparative data on trends in substantive and procedural approaches for handling parole duration and discharge issues for juvenile offenders. These trends are evaluated in relation to movements toward formalism in corrections, recent reforms in juvenile sentencing, standards promulgated by various standard-setting groups, and recent shifts in juvenile justice philosophy in the United States.

Case Management Relationships and a Recovery Orientation: A Consumer Survey of Class Members in the Arnold Case

The purpose of this study was to examine the relative contributions of the working alliance in predicting a recovery orientation. An additional aim was to determine whether a measure of case management fairness contributed any additional proportion of explained variance in a recovery orientation beyond what is accounted for by the working alliance. The study blended structured interview and clinical judgment measures with survey research methods to obtain data about consumer relationships with their case managers, as well as their recovery attitudes. The sample consisted of (N = 167) priority-class members involved in the Arnold v. Arizona Department of Health Services class-action lawsuit in Maricopa County, Arizona. The results showed that the working alliance and case management fairness variables accounted for more of the explained variance in a recovery orientation, than any of the other known correlates of recovery. The results also provided some preliminary support for the inclusion of case management fairness as a predictor variable of a recovery orientation, in that the studys measure of case management fairness contributed a small proportion of additional variance beyond what was explained by the working alliance in predicting a dimension of a recovery orientation. The implications of the studys findings for practice and future research are discussed.

Protecting the interests of juveniles on aftercare/parole

Abstract This paper examines liberty and due process issues in juvenile aftercare that are treated in a relatively cavalier fashion by social work and legal advocates. Special attention is given to reviewing current judicial policy and the results of a national survey on juvenile aftercare practices and procedures. This review of judicial and state policies is used to formulate future directions for policy reforms by social workers involved in the administration of juvenile aftercare/ parole.

Legal Criteria and Clinical Predictions in Drug Legislation

Social workers are often asked to predict offender likelihood of benefiting from statutory drug treatment. However, many workers are unaware of the controversy surrounding such predictions and the philosophical issues involved. The legal and social issues relevant to such predictions are analyzed.