Risk/needs assessment training for probation
officers began in late 1995 in the Northern
Region and was completed in March 1996 in
the Lower Mainland. Probation officers began
using the instrument on all new intakes in the
province in April 1996.* By August, more than
10,000 CRNAs were completed for offenders.
Risk/needs assessment replaced caseload
capping as the strategy for managing increased
community workloads.

Case management standards were developed to
accompany the level of risk/need presented by
an offender. The basic principles of case
management standards were:

» Supervision that offenders receive should
correspond to their level of risk;

« Service that offenders receive should
correspond to their needs; and

» Branch resources focus on higher risk cases
and offender needs that are linked to criminal
behaviout.

The standards also focused resources on
medium/high tisk cases and reduced the level
of intervention fot low-risk cases. Individual
offender risk was managed to protect the public

and effect change in the offender’s criminal
behaviour.

Community workload strategies indicated that
offenders who fell into low risk/low needs, ot

low tisk/medium needs categories of the

CRNA would receive one mode of

‘ian 49
supervision.

Modes of supervision

Under the risk/needs supervision strategy,
there were modes of supervision that varied in
type and number, depending on the risk and
needs of the offender. Modes of supervision
could include one or mote contacts with:

« A probation officer by telephone;

» Collaterals, such as family members;

» A contracted therapist;

» An employer;

« A landlord; and

» Attendance at a core program or other

treatment program.

With review of assessments every six months,
these modes could be changed during the
period of supervision.

Offender programs

Overview

The hardening face of the offender population
resulted in a demand for treatment programs.
Programs were required for sex offenders,

spousal assault and mentally disordered
offenders. In addition, the prevalence of
addiction in offenders needed to be addressed.

48 Following training for institutional staff in 1996, assessment tools were applied at the classification stage,
although priority was given to community level assessments. ‘This meant that application of the RNA process
within jails was not consistent. By the time North Fraser Pretrial Services Centre opened in 2001, risk
assessment instruments were routinely applied during the classification process.

49 ADM Directive 96:29, British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General, Corrections Branch, 1996.

The Era of Risk Management (1990-1997)

213