Probation services around the world carry a dual responsibility of keeping communities safe while helping prepare justice-involved individuals for successful reintegration into society. For decades, the focus of probation has leaned heavily on supervision and enforcement to ensure compliance with conditions and reduce reoffending through monitoring and sanctions. But in recent years,...
Justice-involved individuals, particularly women in prison, face unique and complex challenges. Their rehabilitation journey requires more than a one-size-fits-all solution—it demands a trauma-informed approach that recognizes their lived experiences to encourage healing. A trauma-informed approach, when thoughtfully applied, can help build safer, more empowering environments where incarcerated women are given...
Education is a cornerstone of rehabilitation, especially for justice-involved individuals who are striving to rebuild their lives. In reshaping the outlook for justice-involved individuals, the “right educational environment can encourage critical reflection and inspire inmates to move away from criminal activity (Behan, as cited in 1).” That said, recent critiques...
Correctional services are increasingly incorporating strength-based practices in risk/needs assessment and case management of justice-involved individuals; however, it is not always clear how to conceptualize strength, or how to use a justice-involved individual’s strengths to build rapport. The question then is, “How can we build on strengths in treatment planning?” In...
In correctional facilities, user-friendly software design is a necessity. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring that staff and justice-involved individuals can effectively use the technology, enhancing overall efficiency and promoting inclusivity. This article explores the importance of creating interfaces that are easy to navigate and the role of accessibility guidelines...
Justice-involved women face unique challenges that extend beyond the general difficulties of imprisonment. Many women are primary caregivers to children, grappling with the emotional toll of separation from their families. Additionally, justice-involved women often have higher rates of past trauma, including domestic violence and sexual abuse, which can complicate their...
The insights presented in this blog are based on current published research. MHS disclaims the use and application of the TRAP-18 other than by qualified professionals and as intended. Further research is required to fully validate these initial research findings. Since the early 1990’s, law enforcement agencies have faced significant challenges...
In the evolving landscape of criminology, the concept of desistance—the process by which individuals cease and abstain from criminal behavior—is gaining prominence. Public safety organizations are shifting from a predominant focus on factors that increase risk to a focus on factors that also reduce risk. This shift recognizes the complexities...
There has been a paradigm shift towards a person-centric approach to rehabilitating and reintegrating individuals within correctional facilities and probation. This approach focuses on recognizing the intrinsic value of every individual involved in the criminal justice process. The foundation of this perspective lies in acknowledging a person’s dignity and potential...
Key takeaways: The CAFAS and PECFAS are vital tools for mental health professionals to assess youth functioning, strengths, and goals, aiding in treatment planning and outcome evaluation across various domains. Developed by Dr. Kay Hodges, these assessments streamline decision-making processes by informing treatment type and intensity, level of care,...
