As you work with individuals involved in the criminal justice system, you will be using specific risk assessment tools designed to help you and your colleagues to make educational determinations about your clients. For example, what is an offender’s risk of reoffending? What behaviors might you need to promote to offset that risk?
Imagine you have been asked to create a handout for your colleagues at your agency to help them remember the different assessment tools, how and when to use them, and how to interpret the information provided.
Identify a risk assessment tool used in your state in the criminal justice system. Localize where this risk assessment tool is used, such as probation, parole, custody settings, and so on. The tool should measure risk to reoffend. Some examples are the LSI-R, LS/CMI, ORAS, CAIS, and COMPAS.
Write a 525- to 700-word handout designed to define and explain the assessment tool and provide a specific example of how the tool works. In your handout, you should:
Describe the assessment tool.
Explain what the tool is meant to assess.
Describe how the information gained from the assessment is used.
Include images and/or icons to create a visual plan for your handout to help make the text more readable.
Support your writing with peer-reviewed journal articles, including articles addressing the validation and reliability of the tool.
Cite your sources according to APA guidelines.
