Adhering to the Risk and Need Principles: Does It Matter for Supervision-Based Programs?

IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, there has been a re-emergence of interest in the effectiveness of correctional treatment programs for offenders. This interest has led to the development of the principles of effective interventions (Gendreau, 1996; Gendreau, French, & Taylor, 2002). Research has now shown a link between these program characteristics and effectiveness (Andrews & Dowden, 1999; Lipsey & Wilson, 1995; Gendreau, 1996; Lowenkamp, 2004: Lowenkamp, Latessa, and Smith, 2006). However, most of these studies have examined traditional residential treatment programs. Therefore, the question remains: Do these principles apply to community non-residential programs such as intensive supervision probation? The current study examines the effects of program characteristics on recidivism using a sample drawn from community non-residential programs to determine if the risk and need principles apply to traditional supervision-oriented programs such intensive supervision probation, electronic monitoring, day reporting, and work release.