INTRO TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE - Research Paper Example

Risk Principle A critical analysis of risk principle illustrates that intervention techniques should employ behavioral and cognitive evaluation of criminal’s susceptibility of recommitting the crime for identifying the risk factors attached to that criminal accordingly. Hence, through behavioral interventions, the justice system can identify high-risk offenders and thus focus on them accordingly. It is important to note that providing similar treatment to the low-risk offenders can increase their chances of reverting back to criminal behavior in a more aggressive manner (Latessa, 2012).

The principle and its related interventions tend to be particularly effective because of its focus on the right segment. Since the susceptibility of high-risk offenders to revert back to criminal behavior is relatively high, this principle helps in designing interventions that would focus on this demographic segment of those who were convicted or been in prison earlier (Crow, 2001). With the help of this principle, intensive interventions designed with the help of actuarial-based assessments in instruments focused on curtailing criminogenic needs can be particularly helpful.

It is important to note that this identification of high-risk in community settings can help in devising specific interventions that would address community-based needs. According to Travis (2003), a simple example of high risk offenders can be identification of prisoners’ susceptibility of recommitting the crime with the help of federal data as months right after release from prison present the highest risk to public safety. Therefore, it is important that community interventions should focus more on prisoners that have just left the prison.

Need Principle Another major principle in ‘what works’ movement is need principle. This principle defines what criminogenic needs e.g. antisocial personality, attitudes and peers, to focus on after identifying high-risk offenders (Braucht, 2009; Bechtel, 2011). This principle illustrates that prisoners and convicts are already subjected to negative behavior and other unpleasant social factors therefore it is important that reinforcement should be mainly positive (Latessa, 2006). In addition to that, every participant’s needs in intervention programs are relatively unique as compared to others.

Therefore, it is important that a high-intensity program is introduced that would last for few months to a year depending on the needs of the offender. Furthermore, these services should occupy “40 to 70 percent of the offender's time during the course of the program (Petersila, 2004, p. 5). The principle is effective in a sense that it addresses individual needs of the offenders however when examined in the light of overall judicial system, it is difficult to follow as there will be need of large number of professionals that would be required to supervise these services along with programs designed for individuals instead of groups.

Responsivity Principle The third principle in ‘what works movement is responsivity principle. This principle defines how to engage individuals and employ strategies that would change their overall behavior (Braucht, 2009). Responsivity