Myrinda Schweitzer

Improving probation officers' supervision skills: an evaluation of the EPICS model

Previous research suggests traditional probation and parole services perform less than optimally in reducing recidivism. In response to these findings, several attempts to integrate the principles of effective intervention and core correctional practices into community supervision have been made. Preliminary results from several jurisdictions suggest that the use of core correctional practices within thecontext of community supervision has been associated with meaningful reductions in offender recidivism. This research provided the impetus for the development of a new model by the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute, entitled Effective Practices in Community Supervision (EPICS). The purpose of the EPICS model is to teach community supervision officers how to translate the principles of effective intervention into practice, and, more specifically, how to use core correctional practices in face-to-face interactions with offenders. Results indicated that officers trained in the EPICS model demonstrated more consistent use of core correctional practices. Remarkably, trained officers also became more proficient in their use of these skills over time as a result of participation in coaching sessions. These preliminary findings underscore the importance of training and coaching as an on-going process to assist agencies in gaining adherence to the principles of effective intervention and core correctional practices.

The Therapeutic Prison

Since the founding of the penitentiary, the hope has persisted that incarceration could serve reformative purposes. This intent to create a truly therapeutic prison is no longer a utopian dream. A theoretically informed and evidence-based approach for designing a correctional institution that delivers effective interventions is now available: the Correctional Program Assessment Inventory (CPAI). In this context, the current essay illuminates how the CPAI can be used to guide the development of a prison whose goals and practices advance offender rehabilitation.

The Influence of Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Problems on the Effectiveness of Juvenile Drug Courts

The effectiveness of juvenile drug courts is mixed, and several factors could account for these findings. The present study examines whether and why youth with co-occurring mental health problems may have worse outcomes in juvenile drug court than youth who only have issues with substance use. In a sample of youth in juvenile drug court, 328 youth with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders were compared with 336 youth with only substance use disorders. Youth with co-occurring mental health problems had significantly worse criminal justice outcomes than youth without mental health problems. These outcomes were explained, in part, by more frequent violations of the drug court requirements, and in particular, violations surrounding treatment noncompliance. Results suggest that juvenile drug courts—as they currently operate—may be unsuccessfully managing youth who present with co-occurring mental health and substance use problems. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Downsizing Juvenile Institutions in Ohio: Five Innovations

Abstract Over the past 15 years, Ohio’s juvenile justice system has undergone important reforms that have led to a significant decline in the number of youthful offenders committed to state correctional facilities. As such, the purpose of this paper is to describe five unique innovations carried out across the state that have led to the downsizing of juvenile confinement in Ohio. These innovations include (1) the creation of Community Corrections Facilities; (2) RECLAIM Ohio; (3) the Ohio Youth Assessment System; (4) Targeted RECLAIM; and (5) the Behavioral Health/Juvenile Justice Initiative. Lessons learned from these efforts will be identified and discussed.

What Works with Sex Offenders

Although sex offenders comprise a relatively small proportion of all offenders, they invoke fear and a strong emotional response. The research indicates that treatment for sex offenders can be effective in reducing recidivism provided that programs adhere to the principles of effective intervention—risk, need, responsivity, and fidelity. Although general risk assessment tools have been found to predict outcomes for sex offenders, a number of sex offender-specific tools have been developed and are widely used. Research has also indicated that the most effective treatment approaches for sex offenders are cognitive behavioral models. Recently, there has been a new movement called the Good Lives Model, but as critics point out, there is little empirical support for this approach.

A quasi-experimental evaluation of a juvenile justice reinvestment initiative

Abstract There is an increasing movement throughout the United States and abroad to develop cost-effective and evidence-based strategies that enhance public safety, decrease recidivism, and reduce the number of inmates held in correctional facilities. One such recent approach to achieve these goals is the use of justice reinvestment strategies, which promote the reallocation of funds initially designated for imprisonment into other community-based alternatives. Although the available research generally indicates many of the reinvestment initiatives undertaken so far are effective in achieving these goals, much less empirical attention focuses on what aspects of these programs are effective. In response, this study fills a critical gap in this literature by evaluating how different treatment services and offender risk levels influence the recidivism of youth involved in a justice reinvestment program in Ohio. The findings of this study indicate youth who were incarcerated were nearly two times as likely to recidivate during a one-year follow-up compared to similarly matched youth who participated in the justice reinvestment programming. This study also found that the effectiveness of treatment was also moderated to a large extent by treatment modality and offender risk level. The policy implications of these findings and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

Reinvesting in the Lives of Youth A Targeted Approach to Reducing Recidivism

Justice reinvestment strategies have been proposed to allow financial resources originally allocated for imprisonment to be reinvested into community-based alternatives. According to this perspective, the government has the responsibility to fund strategies that reduce crime, and previous studies have questioned the effectiveness of prison as one solution. Furthermore, empirical support for community-based alternatives underscores the importance of delivering interventions in offenders’ natural environments. This study explores one state’s attempt to fund strategies that reduce crime and delinquency. Through the Targeted Reasoned and Equitable Community and Local Alternatives to the Incarceration of Minors (RECLAIM) initiative, the State of Ohio attempted to reduce the risk of recidivism by serving more youth locally, instead of in secure facilities in the six most populous counties throughout the state. Specifically, the findings suggest that the Targeted RECLAIM initiative was successful in reducing the risk of recidivism of participating youth.