2015 NLADA Annual Conference

Research shows that intensive programming is most successful when used for the highest risk offenders, while the lowest risk defendants do best when left alone. These are principles intuitive to many defenders, but the proliferation of risk-need-responsivity research has sparked a flurry of experimentation with actuarial tools that assess for risk of recidivism and related social service needs in a range of criminal court contexts, from pretrial to sentencing. Like many reform efforts, there is great potential for these tools when developed and implemented thoughtfully, but the scheme is not without a variety of pitfalls for defenders and other justice system players. This session will provide a primer on the evidence basis behind risk-need assessment, highlighting and distinguishing a handful of validated tools currently available to practitioners free-of-charge. The session will also include a candid dialogue and brainstorming session with the audience about relevant legal and ethical questions concerns and how these challenges could be overcome.