How does assessing client needs in the areas of education, employment, and treatment, among other areas, help develop the program plan? How much should a client be expected to do while on supervision?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The officer must identify those characteristics, conditions, or behavioral problems that limit the offender's motivation or may lead to a return to criminal behavior. This includes drug or alcohol abuse, mental illness, anger management issues, or deficiencies in education or vocational skills. Treatment activities are defined as actions taken by the supervising officer intended to bring about a change in the offender's conduct or condition for the purpose of rehabilitation and reintegration into the law-abiding community. Together, both risk and needs assessments can (and should) define the types of correctional services that are made available to offenders. The principles of effective intervention state that offenders should participate in treatment every day, occupying 40% to 70% of the day, for three to nine months. Obviously, this depends upon the needs assessment, and the importance of the treatment program must be weighed against the need for full-time employment. The importance of carefully gathering and evaluating the offender's history cannot be overstated, for past behavior is, at the moment, the best predictor we have of future behavior.