GEO Reentry Services programs rely on evidence-based practices that are proven to reduce recidivism — our staff target specific risk factors that lead to participants’ criminal behavior, address those factors that can be changed, like criminal thinking, and, over time, effect positive behavioral change.
An individual’s criminogenic risk factors are those most strongly correlated to criminal behavior, which, according to “What Works,” also makes them the best predictors of recidivism. Criminogenic needs are defined as “dynamic risk factors,” which means they are changeable — for example, personal attitudes and substance use. In comparison, “static risk factors,” for example, an individual’s age at their first arrest, cannot be changed, so are not targeted.
Research around criminogenic needs has identified the eight different factors that are most strongly correlated to future criminal behavior. At GEO Reentry, our staff primarily target the top three of those factors— antisocial cognition, or thoughts and beliefs; antisocial personality, or temperament; and antisocial associates, or company — providing structured and comprehensive programming to address each one.
Participants’ belief systems, attitudes, and behaviors that lead to a cycle of repeat criminal behavior have often been formed over time. But our GEO Reentry programs offer a system of accountability, structure, and treatment that encourages higher levels of reasoning, facilitates identity development, enhances self-esteem and promotes decision-making which can reduce criminal risk.
In partnership with local probation and parole agencies, our GEO Reentry programs offer targeted services including cognitive behavioral treatment; alcohol and drug treatment; Community Connections, which provides links to community-based organizations offering valuable resources; employment readiness training; life skills classes; vocational and educational services; and more.
The five secondary factors most strongly correlated to criminal behavior are family or marital conflict, stressors, or displays of antisocial values; substance abuse; lack of employment stability or achievement; lack of educational achievement; and lack of prosocial leisure activities. Notably, for juvenile offenders, family conflict and stressors are treated as a primary target as well.
The research on evidence-based practices also shows that addressing moderate and high-risk offenders’ individual dynamic risk factors decreases their likelihood of reoffending. One rubric GEO Reentry uses to determine an offender’s risk level is the LSI-R, or Level of Supervision Inventory-Revised, a score that indicates an individual’s risk for reoffending and allows program staff to target higher-risk offenders.
Many of these risk factors also influence one another, or “cluster.” For example, substance abuse puts an offender in contact with individuals who share those same antisocial attitudes and behaviors. But research has shown the greater the number of needs addressed the more likely offenders’ risk levels will decrease.
Targeting these criminogenic needs is what GEO Reentry programs strive to do every day. In addressing participants’ antisocial beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, we can help disrupt the cycle of repeat criminal behavior that is destructive to the individual, costly to the community, and detrimental to public safety.
In GEO Reentry Services’ white paper, “What Works to Reduce Recidivism?,” industry experts examined the body of research on evidence-based practices and found that the reentry programs that achieve the greatest reductions in recidivism will target the factors that most contribute to criminal behavior.