Implementing Best
Practice In Probation
Casework
Why And How
Vincent J. Iaria MSW , MPA
Chief Probation Officer San Diego
Best Practice
 What
is evidence-based practice.
– Interventions for which there is
consistent scientific evidence showing
improved outcomes.
Evidence-Based Practice Origins
–
Medical Profession:
– Tradition
– Obsolete knowledge
– What MD’s learned in medical school
– What MD’s do well
– Patterns gleaned from experience
– Information given by hordes of vendors
Probation Malpractice?
 Banked
caseloads for high risk cases
 Intensive supervision of low risk
cases
 Outward bound programs
 Scared straight
 Intensive supervision without
treatment.
 DARE programs
Why Don’t We Do Evidence Based
Practice
 Difficult
to keep track of evidence.
 Evidence is not often clear cut and
must be interpreted.
 Implementing change is not easy.
 People are trying to mislead you.
 You are trying to mislead you.
 It’s hard to compete with a good
story.
What You Can Do To Advance EBP
 Stop
treating old ideas as if they
were brand new
 Be suspicious of breakthrough studies
 Recognize collective brilliance
 Emphasize drawbacks as well as
virtues
 Use success and failure stories to
illustrate sound practice but not in
place of research
 Adopt a neutral stance toward
ideologies or theories
Implementing Evidenced-based
Practice in Probation
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Leadership
Vision / Mission
Statement
Policy and Procedures
Policy and
Implementation Teams
System Stakeholders /
Collaboration
Planning
Communication
Resources / Budget
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Recruitment and Hiring
Training
Performance
Management
Measurement
Information
Management
Research / Evaluation
Assessment and
Classification
Case Planning
Treatment / Programs
Intermediate Sanctions
EBP Implementation Requirements
Guiding Principles Of EBP
Probation Case Management
Criminogenic Needs
 Low
Self-Control
 Anti-Social Personality
 Anti-Social Values
 Criminal Peers
 Substance Abuse
 Dysfunctional Family
Maryland Model
Introduction
 Supervision
agencies should adopt
behavioral management techniques
as a goal of the organization.
 The behavioral management
techniques should refer to actions
that the staff use to achieve
offender-related and organizationalrelated outcomes
Assessment And Planning
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Consider the offender’s current stage of change
in assigning supervision and/or treatment
services.
Match the offender’s dynamic factors with
appropriate services.
The offender’s risk factors should determine the
supervision services.
The supervision plan should be a behavioral
contract.
The behavioral contract should encompass
supervision requirements, and expected
sanctions and incentives.
Use problem-solving techniques with the offender
to assist learning.
Alternative behaviors and reactions to triggers.
Stages of Offender Change
Offender Behavior Change
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Focus on criminogenic needs (dynamic factors) to
reduce the Offender’s risk of recidivism.
Improve decision-making in pro-social arenas
and reduce distorted thinking patterns.
High-risk offenders should receive intensive (and
structured) programs and/or services.
Develop an understanding of the offender’s prior
and current behavior.
increase offender’s own understanding of their
behavior patterns and the consequences of
engaging in negative and/or antisocial behavior.
Responsivity
Impact of matching needs to risk
Information Tools
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To acquire information about the offender and
his/her behavior.
To share information shared with the offender to
learn about his/her behavior patterns.
To control the behavior of the offender,
To provide feedback on his/her behavioral
patterns.
To identify informal social controls.
To identify supportive relationships in the
community.
To develop collateral contacts with the offender’s
natural support system to achieve pro-social
goals for the offender.
Use drug testing and monitoring techniques (e.g.,
GPS, house arrest, etc.) To control offender
behavior and identify patterns.
Good case planning
Incentives to Shape Offender
Behavior
 use
incentives to encourage and
reinforce pro-social behaviors.
 use incentives in a swift, certain, and
progressive manner, just like
sanctions, to shape offender
behavior.
Service Tools
 Supervision
agencies should use
service tools—treatment programs—
to develop internal controls.
 Supervision agencies should use
service tools—treatment programs—
based on the criminogenic needs of
the offender.
Offender Types
Develop minimum supervision
standards in the form of practice
guidelines for different types of
offenders.
– Ensure that the different standards are
based on a solid assessment protocol,
– Matches offenders to appropriate
treatment and supervision services,
– And establishes quarterly goals and
objectives for the offender to achieve.
CPAI
1. Program Implementation &
Leadership
2. Offender Assessment
3. Program Characteristics
4. Staff Characteristics
5. Evaluation
6. Other
Required Knowledge
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Criminogenic needs and risk factors.
Evidence-based supervision and treatment
interventions.
The process of criminal thinking.
The stages of individual change.
Social learning theory and behavior management
principles.
Graduated responses to non-compliance.
Relapse prevention strategies.
And Skills
Conducting risk and needs assessments.
 Developing probationer case plans and
behavioral contracts.
 Motivational enhancement techniques and
motivational interviewing.
 Cognitive-behavioral therapy.
 Staff supervision and leading change
(supervisors).
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References
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Reforming California’ s Juvenile Corrections
System, Farrell v Hickman (California Department
of Corrections & Rehabilitation)
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/DivisionsBoards/DJJ/abou
t/dec1report/4_safety_welfare.pdf
Implementing Effective Correctional Management
of Offenders in the Community (Crime and
Justice Institute) www.cjiinstitute.org
Evidence-Based Management by Jeffrey Pfeffer &
Robert I. Sutton (Harvard Business Review)
Preventing Crime: What Works, What Doesn’t,
What’s Promising, A Report to the US Congress
(Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice,
University of Maryland)
What Works: Bridging the Gap Between
Research and Correctional Practice (Department
of Justice, National Institute of Corrections)
References (Continued)
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Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for
Change William Miller, Stephen Rollnick (New
York: The Guilford Press)
Tools of the Trade, A guide to Incorporating
Science into Practice (National Institute of
Corrections, Maryland Dept. of Public Safety and
Correctional Services)
Psychotherapy, Theory, Research and Practice
(Publisher Unknown) “Transtheoretical Therapy:
Toward a more integrative model of change.” J.O.
Prochaska and C.C. DiClemente