Risk-Need-Responsivity Model for Offender Assessment and Rehabilitation

Flashcards based on key concepts from the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model for Offender Assessment and Rehabilitation.

Risk principle

Assesses that criminal behaviour can be reliably predicted and that treatment should focus on higher risk offenders.

Need principle

Highlights the importance of criminogenic needs in the design and delivery of treatment.

Responsivity principle

Describes how treatment should be provided to maximize the offender’s ability to learn from a rehabilitative intervention.

Criminogenic needs

Dynamic risk factors that are directly linked to criminal behavior and can change over time.

Static risk factors

Factors related to criminal history that are immutable and do not change over time.

General responsivity

Calls for the use of cognitive social learning methods to influence behavior effectively.

Specific responsivity

Tailors interventions to the individual’s strengths, learning style, personality, motivation, and bio-social characteristics.

Dynamic validity

Refers to the ability of risk assessment tools to reflect changes in an offender’s circumstances and associated risk of recidivism.

The central eight

The major predictors of criminal behavior included in the risk-need-responsivity model.

Offender rehabilitation

The process through which offenders are treated with the aim of reducing recidivism and promoting prosocial behavior.