1. ENGAGING COMMUNITY- AND FAITH-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO STRENGTHEN
COMMUNITIES AND CHANGE LIVES
June 13, 2013

2. 
 Today’s workshop is sponsored by grant #2011-CZ-BX-
0039 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of
Justice Programs, United States Department of Justice
 Information presented and opinions of the presenter do
not necessarily represent those of the USDOJ
 Presenter:
 Roberto Hugh Potter, Ph.D.
Director of Research Partnerships (and soon to be department
chair)
UCF Department of Criminal Justice,
College of Health & Public Affairs
STANDARD
DISCLOSURE

3. 
 Update you on the re-entry efforts conducted to date
at Orange County Corrections;
 Introduce you to the concept of “criminogenics”;
 Discuss “evidence-based practices”(EBPs):
 To locate them for intervention and grant purposes;
 To understand the levels of evidence
 Discuss integrating EBPs with criminogenic needs
 Discuss the role of community- and faith-based
organizations in maintaining EBPs as part of re-entry
programs into the community.
OBJECTIVES

4. 
 Design an evidence-based program (EBP) to:
 Assess a sub-set of inmates for criminogenic risk;
 Select an E-B risk assessment tool
 Train staff to employ assessment tool
 Implement EBPs to address (dynamic) criminogenic
needs while incarcerated;
 Cognitive-behavioral modification training
 Education and employment attainment
 Substance abuse/dependence treatment readiness
 Social welfare needs
RE-ENTRY PLAN

5. 
 Criminogenic = factors that have been consistently
associated with the commission of criminal behaviors,
such as:
 prior criminal behaviors and involvement (criminal record),
 substance abuse,
 family dysfunction,
 anti-social/criminal peers,
 certain personality traits,
 low self-control,
 criminal thinking patterns, and
 poor social involvement, among others
CRIMINO – WHAT?

6. 
Changeable Unchangeable
Friends and associates Prior record
Attitudes and values (lack of
empathy)
Criminal history
Problem solving skills Family criminal history
Employment status
Substance abuse
Self-control skills
DYNAMIC VS. STATIC
 NEEDS= What to target
(Dynamic)

7. 
 Our goal is to match criminogenic need with an
evidence-based intervention to address that need;
 Commonly referred to as “RNR”:
 Risk
 Need
 Responsivity
 Also concerned with program “fidelity” or the
conduct of a program as it was intended to be
implemented.
NEED = INTERVENTION?

8. 
Evidence-Based
Practices
Social Service
Needs
Criminogenic
Needs
FOCUS ON
MATCHING NEEDS

9. 
 Required for funding!
 “Best Practices”
 often based on the collective experience and wisdom of the
field rather than scientifically tested knowledge.
 “What Works”
 implies linkage to general outcomes, but does not specify
the kind of outcomes desired
 “Evidence-Based Practice” implies that
 1) there is a definable outcome(s);
 2) it is measurable; and
 3) it is defined according to practical realities
Source: Crime & Justice Institute. http://nicic.gov/pubs/2004/019342.pdf
RH Potter, Ph.D. CCJ6118
WHY EBP?

10. 
LEVELS OF EMPIRICAL
SUPPORT (GRADIENT)

11.  GOLD
 Experimental/control research design with controls for attrition
 Significant sustained reductions in recidivism obtained
 Multiple site replications
 Preponderance of all evidence supports effectiveness
 SILVER
 Quasi-experimental control research with appropriate statistical controls for comparison group
 Significant sustained reductions in recidivism obtained
 Multiple site replications
 Preponderance of all evidence supports effectiveness
 BRONZE
 Matched comparison group without complete statistical controls
 Significant sustained reductions in recidivism obtained
 Multiple site replications
 Preponderance of all evidence supports effectiveness
 IRON
 Conflicting findings and/or inadequate research designs
 DIRT
 Silver and Gold research showing negative outcomes
RH Potter, Ph.D. CCJ6118
LEVELS OF EMPIRICAL
SUPPORT EXPLAINED

12. 
 www.crimesolutions.gov – Department of Justice
rating of evidence-base for criminal justice
interventions
 http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ - National Registry
of Evidence-based Programs and Practices
(substance abuse & mental health)
 http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/research/prs/prs_
rep_debi.htm - HIV/STD-related programs
IDENTIFYING EBPS

13. 
 Our target is medium-high to high criminogenic risk
offenders returning from jail to the community;
 Some “frequent fliers” may have low to medium
criminogenic risk, but heavy social service needs;
 “Do no harm” – our programs could do more harm
than good if applied to this group.
 Social service needs are not criminogenic in
themselves, but may be needed to support
reductions in criminal behavior;
SOCIAL SERVICES

14. 
 Criminogenic Risk Assessment – ORAS
 Cognitive-behavioral intervention – Thinking for a
Change (T4C)
 Education/Employment Training -
 Substance Abuse/Dependency Awareness –
 Social Service Interventions –
 Begin case management planning and establish
linkages to community-based providers
WHAT THE JAIL IS DOING –
WHERE WE ARE

15. 
 Continue interventions into the community
 Monitor follow-through on referrals for service in the
community
 Monitor utilization of services in the community
 Evaluate community impact of services delivered
other than return to jail
WHAT THE JAIL
CAN’T DO

16. 
 Develop cadre of community organizations (civic-
and faith-based) to partner in case management
 Built from in-jail EBPs
 “Seamless” transition to community resources
 Case management in community
 Maintain emphasis on criminogenic risk reduction
WHERE WE WANT TO
GO

17. 
 Set up network
 Create strong ties with providers
 Maintenance
 Consistent check ins with clients
 Consistent check-ins with providers
 Detailed files are kept on clients and updated regularly
 Measurement
 Program progress is thoroughly documented by case
manager in a program specific data base
 Data can be pulled from this data base and run (at
minimum) once per quarter.
 Regular analysis of gathered data will highlight programs
strengths and weaknesses
M & M

18. 
 Need to identify county services being utilized by
program participants and their families;
 Want to develop seamless transitions from jail-based
programs into, or building upon, current
involvement in other county services;
 Want to work with other county services to maintain
emphasis on criminogenic risk reduction while in
other programs.
OTHER COUNTY
SERVICES

19. 
 Same outcomes desired!
 Are there faith- and community-based organizations
that currently employ E-B criminogenic risk
reduction programs?
 Snow-ball sample of providers suggests that, beyond
substance abuse and mental health, the answer is “no”
 What will it take to get F/CBOs on board with the
program?
 What if they don’t want to adopt our EBPs?
OTHER COMMUNITY
SERVICES

20. Provider Services Criminogenic Needs Social Needs
Identification X
Substance Abuse Tx X X
Housing X
Education X
Counseling (case specific) (X) X
Basic Life Skills X
Employment X X
Social Support Networks X X
Family Services X
Mental Health X
Food/Clothing X
Medications/Physical
Healthcare
X
Transportation
GAP ANALYSIS

21. 
 Participation of other County-funded services in the
re-entry program, in-jail and the community;
 Recruitment of community-/faith-based services into
the re-entry program;
 Commitment to the criminogenic risk reduction
EBPs identified by the jail program
WHAT WE NEED

22. 
 OCCD Staff:
 Dr. Jill Hobbs
 Mr. Wilbert Danner
 Ms. Tracy Swank
 Ms. Rita Black
 UCF:
 Ms. Emma Willis, Ms. Mallory Ambrose. M.S., Ms.
Mindy Weller, M.S.
 Ms. Gail Humiston, M.S.
THANK-YOU