Risk/Needs Assessment - Essay Example

Concurrently, needs assessment was described as “the use of a validated quantitative instrument to identify those characteristics, conditions, or behavioral problems that limit an offender’s motivation or that might be linked with their criminal behavior” (Alarid, 2015, p. 98). There is a necessity to conduct the risk assessment for a client being supervised under the community corrections program to assist in the classification process (Alarid, 2015). On the other hand, the needs assessment was emphasized to be required to enable the supervising officer to determine which conditions, behavioral problems, or characteristics of the offender could significantly impact or restrict alleged motivation to correct misdemeanor or to potentially return to previous criminal behavior.

Thus, there might be treatment needs, such as recommended interventions for drug abuse, mental illness, anger management, or even deficiencies noted in education and skills, which would assist in designing supervision plans which would be instrumental and contributory to the road to rehabilitation and reintegration to society.The most appropriate risk/needs assessment instrument which is perfectly designed to serve the objective of the classification process is the Ohio Risk Assessment System (ORAS).

From the assessment tool, it could be deduced that the following pertinent information would be collected as a primary means to evaluate the client: (1) the criminal history; (2) education, employment, and financial situation; (3) family and support systems; (4) neighborhood problems; (5) substance use; (6) peer associations; and (7) criminal attitudes as well as behavioral patterns (Alarid, 2015). From these major assessment sections, the supervising officer would be able to discern the level of risks (high, medium, or low) of the offender; and thereby, recommend the needed interventions according to the risk level.

In addition, any behavioral problem or personality concerns would also be revealed from the assessment to assist in recommending treatment needs and designing supervision plans.Overall, the risk and needs assessment is very important for community correction programs to enable supervising officers to determine various factors and facets that could impact the design of supervision plans. Through the identification of risks, as well as the needs of the offender, supervising officers could integrate the treatment and intervention approaches that would cater to the distinct and unique requirements of the offender.