14Jan
24Sep
The Future of Probation: Where Technology and Restorative Justice Align
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,...
06Aug
Empowering Women in Prison: Leveraging Technology for a Trauma-Informed Approach
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...
18Oct
Innovative Approaches to Safety: Exploring the Potential of TRAP-18
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...
30Jul
Technology’s Impact on Desistance: Enabling Positive Change
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...
06May
A person-centric approach to modernizing correctional facilities and probation
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...
11Apr
Assessing Youth Functioning, Strengths, and Goals: CAFAS and PECFAS
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,...
05Feb
Transforming Correctional Staff Wellbeing with Innovative Technology
The escalating issue of mental health challenges among correctional staff has become a pressing concern within the criminal justice system. As custodians of order and safety in correctional facilities, these professionals deal with an array of stressors, from the ever-present potential for violence to the emotional toll of managing justice-involved...
19Dec
Exploring the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised: 2nd Edition
The evaluation of psychopathy has a rich and extensive history. Beginning with the initial reflections of trailblazing psychologists and psychiatrists, extending to Cleckley’s (1976) formulation of 16 diagnostic criteria for identifying psychopathy. No more is this history prevalent than in the work of Robert D. Hare, the author of
15Sep
Navigating Youth Diversion: Strategies, Pitfalls, and Impact
Diversion helps youth who have offended as it offers tailored interventions for their needs, counters adverse effects of formal processing, and promotes rehabilitation over punishment. In this blog we explore diverse diversion strategies, how these strategies balance rehabilitation and accountability, and the importance of fair decision-making for positive individual and...