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,...
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...
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 MHS’...
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...
Pedro das Neves is the CEO of IPS Innovative Prison Systems, a research and consulting firm specializing in justice and correctional services. He is the Executive Director of ICJS Innovative Criminal Justice Inc., a Canadian firm that focuses on advisory, design, integration, and delivery of innovative organizational and technological solutions...
If the COVID-19 pandemic taught criminal justice professionals anything, it was that the criminal justice system was not immune to the sweeping effects of the pandemic. The pandemic brought various challenges to those who are incarcerated, on probation, or on parole within North America. Correctional and probation/parole officers saw an...
Predictive validity refers to an assessment's ability to accurately predict an outcome. In the context of risk/needs assessments, accuracy is determined through a validation process. Validation tests if an assessment’s estimated risk/needs score for an individual corresponds to actual behavior or outcomes. In order to test the prediction, meaningful outcome...
Toronto, ON – Multi-Health Systems Inc. (MHS) is excited to announce its acquisition of Northern Ireland-based software company Core Systems, a solutions provider accelerating positive change in the justice system globally through innovative technology. This acquisition aligns with MHS' collaborative, multi-party approach to advance equity, improve access to justice, and...
According to a study by DeFina and Hannon (2009), mass incarceration over the past few decades increased the U.S. poverty rate by approximately 20%. Justice-involved individuals are more likely to reside in low-income neighborhoods which are subject to higher surveillance, policing, and arrests (Reisdorf & DeCook, 2022). Consequently, a person...
Coming out of 2022, public safety organizations must examine internal and external factors that could greatly affect their operations. What are the emerging trends and needs in public safety? What can organizations do to support these critical issues? Here are the five trends we predict will be significant focus areas...
