Practical Application of the
ORAS
The Corrections Institute
Center for Criminal Justice Research
University of Cincinnati
Overall Objectives
• Review the output of the ORAS
• Discuss components of an effective
case management plan
• Develop an effective case management
plan using the ORAS
Principles of Effective
Classification
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Risk
Need
Responsivity
Professional Discretion
Risk/Need
• Static and dynamic factors that are
associated with new criminal behavior
• Higher risk = more intensive services
• Lower risk = lesser intensive services
Responsivity
• Specific responsivity
– Barriers to services
– Non-criminogenic needs
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Motivation
Childcare
Support for change
Race/ethnicity
Case Planning
Why Case Plan?
• Provides a structured approach to case management
• Documents interventions and progress
• Provides offender with concrete expectations
• Guides decision-making
• Helps maintain focus on criminogenic needs
Case Management Models
• Strengths-based model
• Assertive model
• Blended model (Strengths-based +
Assertive)
Case Management - The
Main Task
•Match offender to
services and
programs which
address risk
factors and
remove or
accommodate
barriers related to
responsivity
considerations
Prioritizing Interventions: What to Change and Why
• Criminogenic targets – reduce
risk
• Non-criminogenic targets –
reduce barriers but NOT risk
Prioritizing Needs
• Reasons for prioritization
– Most needy/risky
– Interest of the offender
– Court order
– Most difficult
– Easiest
Practice Identifying Individual
Targets for Change
• Use the scenario in the workbook
• Identify areas of risk
• Prioritize individualized needs
Slide 13
Blended Case Management
What is assessment-driven case
management?
1. Assess risk (ORAS)
2. Prioritize targets for change
3. Develop goals/objectives based on
individual needs flagged on ORAS
4. Remove barriers (responsivity = acute
or chronic)
5. Track on-going progress
6. Re-assess using the ORAS
Results of the ORAS
– Criminal history
– Education, Employment, and Financial
Support
– Family and Social Support
– Neighborhood problems
– Substance use
– Peer Associations
– Criminal attitudes and behavioral patterns
Individualized Needs within
Each Domain
Components of a Case Plan
Individual Needs
Goals
Objectives
Techniques
Sample Case Management Plan
Problem/need:
Need area risk level:
Strengths:
Barriers:
Goal:
Objectives:
Techniques:
Date Initiated:
Date
Completed:
Domains
• Directly from assessments
• Major focus on criminogenic factors
• Address responsivity issues
Individualized Targets
Examine domains flagged as moderate to
high risk
Determine what makes it risky for the
offender
Use specialized assessments if
needed
Substance Abuse
Issue with peers?
Physiologically Addicted?
Poor emotional regulation?
Examples of Individualized
Needs
1. Ineffective communication with
prosocial family
2. Presence of antisocial friends and lack
of prosocial influences
3. Marijuana use
4. Poor problem solving skills
5. Pattern of aggressive behavior
Goals
• Long-term outcomes
• One goal for each individualized target
• Does not have to be measurable
• States a desired behavioral change
Examples of Goals
1. Develop and maintain healthy relationships
with prosocial family members.
2. Develop and maintain prosocial peer
relationships.
3. Develop skills to maintain substance-free
lifestyle.
4. Maintain employment in a prosocial
environment.
5. Increase ability to manage anger with
prosocial coping skills.
Examples of Goals in
Offender’s Language
• Get along with spouse better
• Hang out with friends who stay out of
trouble
• Learn new ways to stay away from
drugs
• Get a job and keep it
• Learn to handle situations without
getting physical
Goals Exercise
Develop long-term goals for 2 needs you
identified in the previous case.
Objectives
• Short-term steps to reach broad goal
• Will likely need several objectives to reach ultimate goal
• Consider offender input
• Must be measurable (quantifiable)
• State in “SMART” terms
SMART Objectives
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-based
Examples of Objectives
Goal: Increase ability to manage anger with prosocial coping
skills.
Objectives:
1. During the next meeting, list costs and benefits of current
behavior when angry.
2. Identify situations and thoughts that lead to angry
behavior by September 4.
3. Over the next 8 weeks, learn and practice 5 skills which
will help manage your anger.
4. Teach the skills you have practiced to your mom by the
next session.
Practice with Objectives
Choose 2 goals and develop objectives
which meet the SMART criteria.
Techniques
• Provider responsibilities to assist offender with
change
• Each objective should have a corresponding
technique
• Consider 3 areas:
– Supervision
– Referrals
– In-person meetings
Techniques – Supervision
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Family contact
Work contact
School contact
Drug screens
Electronic monitoring
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House arrest
Provider updates
Curfew checks
Telephone contact
Technical violations
Techniques – Referrals
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Substance abuse
Social skills
Antisocial thinking
Anger management
Family intervention
Problem-solving
Educational needs
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Vocational services
Prosocial activities
Mentoring
Mental health
Transportation
Abuse
Sexual misconduct
Techniques – Face-to-Face
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Build rapport
Progress updates
Drug screens
Build motivation
Problem-solving
Skill-building
Crisis management
Administer reinforcers
• Family intervention
• Case plan review
• Model prosocial
behavior
• Review journals and/or
thinking reports
• Reassess needs
Examples of Techniques
Goal: Increase ability to manage anger with prosocial coping skills.
Objective 1:
During the next meeting, list costs and benefits of current behavior when
angry.
Techniques:
1. Complete a cost-benefit analysis with offender to help build motivation.
Examples of Techniques
Goal: Increase ability to manage anger with prosocial coping skills.
Objective 2:
Identify situations and thoughts that lead to angry behavior by September 4.
Techniques:
1. Refer to anger management group.
2. Monitor participation through monthly contact with provider.
3. Review group homework regarding triggers.
Practice with Techniques
Choose 2 objectives and develop
corresponding techniques. Focus on
supervision, referrals, and face-to-face
interactions for each objective.
Putting It All Together
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Create a case from scratch
Develop a goal for 2 domains
Develop 1 objective per goal
Develop 2 techniques per objective
Using the Case Plan to Track
Progress
• Identify goals/objectives
• Track progress on each goal/objective
• Creates a record of accomplishments
and continued needs
Updating the Case Plan with
the ORAS
• Develop a case plan off initial
assessment
• Re-assessment provides up-to-date risk
• Individualize goals/objectives
ORAS and the Case Plan
• Use the ORAS to inform areas of need
• Develop individualized targets for
change
• Track change
• Reassess
• Maintain success and continued need