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Best Practices & Innovative Strategies

Vision

Committed to having the most innovative and cutting edge evidence-based organization (EBO) in community corrections.

Purpose

Implement best practices throughout the entire Department with fidelity to improve outcomes for our staff and community.

                                            

THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF EBP FOR EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS

Principle Description

Assess Actuarial Risk/Needs

  • Assess static and dynamic factors
  • Identify unique risk and needs
  • Use as foundation for Evidence-Based Practice supervision and treatment

Enhance Intrinsic Motivation

  • Use motivational interviewing skills
  • Explore ambivalence to change
  • Facilitate a strong internal motivation to change
Target Interventions
  • Risk: Prioritize treatment for clients assessed at higher risk
  • Need: Address the client’s greatest dynamic factors
  • Responsivity: Pair the client’s characteristics to services
  • Dosage: Match the level of services to the client’s assessed risk
  • Treatment: Deliver targeted and timely treatment
Skill Train with Directed Practice
  • Use cognitive-behavioral treatment strategies to address and enhance thinking, socialization, and communication skills
  • Conduct role-play with clients
Increase Positive Reinforcement
  • Encourage behavior change with positive reassurance
  • Use rewards, affirmations, and incentives
  • Deliver four positives to every one negative reinforcements (4:1)
  • Use swift and specific sanctions for infractions when necessary
Engage Ongoing Support in Communities
  • Identify positive community support
  • Enhance pro-social activities in the community
Measure Relevant Processes/Practices
  • Assess change in client’s behavior and effectiveness of staff and services
  • Document and measure outcomes
Provide Measurement Feedback
  • Build motivation and accountability through routine feedback

 

THE BIG FOUR DYNAMIC FACTORS

Dynamic Factor Response

Cognitive Behavioral

  • Recognize risky thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that may lead to criminal/negative behavior
  • Reduce immediate anti-social cognition
  • Sustain long-term pro-social cognition

Social Environment

  • Reduce contact with associates who engage or encourage criminal activities.
  • Enhance contact with associates who support pro-social activities

Personality

  • Build problem solving, decision making, self-management, anger management, and coping skills

Family and/or Marital (Partner or Significant Other)

  • Reduce familial/marital/partner conflict
  • Recognize and enhance healthy relationships
  • Build positive communication skills.

 

THE LESSER FOUR DYNAMIC FACTORS

Dynamic Factor Response

Substance Misuse

  • Reduce substance usage 
  • Avoid situations and environments that encourage substance misuse
  • Enhance positive alternatives to substance misuse

Employment

  • Enhance employment skills 
  • Maintain gainful employment

School

  • Explore educational and vocational training 
  • Expand education opportunities

Family and/or Marital (Partner or Significant Other)

  • Engage in pro-social activities

 

Adapted from: Andrews, Donald A (2007). “Principles of Effective Correctional Programs”, in Motiuk, Laurence L. and Serin, Ralph C. (2007). Compendium 2000 on Effective Correctional Programming.  Correctional Service Canada. csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/compendium/2000/index-eng.shtml

ACPD’s Top 10 COMPAS Assessment Dynamic Factors  

ACPD’s Top 10 Case Plan Needs and Top 10 Program Referrals

 

RESOURCES

BP BLASTS

Date, Issue  Links
February 2025 Issue

BP BLAST

December 2024 Issue

BP BLAST

June 2024 Issue

BP BLAST

April 2024 Issue

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February 2024 Issue

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December 2023 Issue

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October 2023, Issue

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August 2023, Issue

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April 2023, Issue

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February 2023, Issue

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December 2022 Issue

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October 2022, Issue

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August 2022, Issue

BP BLAST

 

Below is a list of internal and external, web-based resources that can be used to find information about Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs), best practices and other research-driven programming that has been found to be effective in supporting our juvenile and adult clients through their reentry journeys.

Please click on links below to access the following resources.

 Resources Description

Carey Guides

Carey Group Publishing

Short, practical, easy to use guides to help clients change their behaviors in critical skill deficit areas and encourage healthy lifestyles.

Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

A list of rated programs and services (well-supported, supported, promising, or does not currently meet the criteria) intended to provide enhanced support to children and families and prevent foster care placements.

Results First Clearinghouse Database

Pew Charitable Trusts

One-stop online resource to find information on the effectiveness of various interventions as rated by nine national research clearinghouses.

Resources for Evidence-Based Programs

Board of State and Community Corrections – California (BSCC)

Websites and online reports featuring listings and assessments of evidence about effective practices and programs for criminal justice practitioners, planners, and policymakers.

What Works in Reentry Clearinghouse

The Council of State Governments (CSG)
A “one-stop shop” for research on the effectiveness of a wide variety of reentry programs and practices.

Evidence-Based Programs Resource Center

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Evidence-based repository and review system designed to provide communities, clinicians, policymakers, and others in the field with information and tools to incorporate evidence-based practices into their communities or clinical settings.

Crimesolutions Registry

National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
A web-based programs and practices clearinghouse with identification and rating processes.

California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC)

California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
Searchable database which provides descriptions and information on research evidence for child welfare-related programs.

Blueprints for Health Youth Development

University of Colorado

A registry which identifies evidence-based interventions that are effective in reducing antisocial behavior and promoting a healthy course of youth development and adult maturity. 

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Evidence Review (TPP)

US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

A list of effective programs to reduce teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and associated sexual risk behaviors.

LIBRARY

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES/BEST PRACTICES ARTICLES

Title Description

How Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Work?

An overview of what Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can do and what it can treat.

Becoming an Evidence-Based Organization: Five Key Components to Consider by D. Myers

An outline of the five key components of organizational development needed to become a comprehensive Evidence-Based Organization (EBO).

Implementing Evidence-Based Policy and Practice in Community Corrections by M. Guevara and E. Solomon

Review of the three components of the Integrated Model for implementing evidence-based policies and practices: Evidence-Based Practices, Organizational Development, and Collaboration. The Model incorporates both research on effective corrections practices and practical approaches needed to create and sustain an EBO.

Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in Community Corrections: The Principles of Effective Intervention

A detailed review of the eight evidence-based principles for effective interventions.

Tools of the Trade: A Guide to Incorporating Science Into Practice

A manual demonstrating the application of evidence-based research findings into the practice of client supervision.

How the Stages of Change Model Helps to Change Your Habits 

A review of the six stages of change (pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

An overview of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) including how it works, a few techniques, and the limitations of CBT.

15 Core CBT Techniques You Can Use Right Now

A review of CBT techniques that may be effectively used during intervention. Techniques include behavioral experiments, journaling, cognitive restructuring, and reframing. The techniques noted here may be used in tandem or individually.

 VIDEOS RELATED TO BEST PRACTICES 

Title Description

A Mental Health Discovery That Could Change Criminal Justice Forever

Kim Gorgen’s TED Talk discussing the association between traumatic brain injury and the criminal justice system. 

Brené Brown on Empathy

An animated short by Dr. Brené Brown outlines the difference between empathy and sympathy and the four qualities of empathy.

 MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING VIDEOS

Title Type Length

Motivational Interviewing JPO1

Example Interview

8:42 Min

Motivational Interviewing JPO2

Example Interview

10:41 Min

Motivational Interviewing: Counseling with Neutrality

Background/Intro

8:36 Min

What is Motivational Interviewing? (by Bill Miller, Theresa Moyers, and Stephen Rollnick)

Background/intro

0:59 Min

Can Motivational Interviewing Work in a Single Session? (by Bill Miller and Theresa Moyers)

Background/intro

3:25 Min

Lifting the Burden in Motivational Interviewing (by Bill Miller)

Background/intro

2:06 Min

How the 5 Principles of Motivational Interviewing Can Help Safeguard Our Nation, Families, and Futures

Background/intro

32:48 Min

Motivational Interviewing

Background/intro 32:13 Min

Motivational Interviewing: Reflective Listening in Challenging Conversations

Example Interview 3:18 Min
Motivational Interviewing: Ken Interviews Daryl Example Interview 27:15 Min
Using Motivational Interviewing Approaches Example Interview 16:02 Min
Motivational Interviewing in Juvenile Justice Settings Example Interview 3:45 Min
 

MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING ARTICLES

Title Description

Motivational Interviewing for Probation Staff: Increasing the Readiness to Change, by M. Clark

Discussion of Motivational Interviewing in the criminal justice field and especially within probation departments.

Resistance, Motivational Interviewing, and Executive Coaching by P. Harakas (Boston University)

An examination of theoretical approaches to executive coaching, the phenomena of resistance and ambivalence, the psychological theories of reactance and self-determination, and the therapeutic approach of MI.

Motivational Interviewing: 8 Questions to Ask Clients to Motivate Change by M. Miller

A review of eight MI examples and questions that may be used with clients.

Motivational Interviewing in Criminal Justice: A New Approach to Addressing Treatment Motivation and Related Behaviors by S. Walters, E. Ressler, L. Douglas, and F. Taxman

An analysis of MI and the Motivational Assessment Program to Initiate Treatment (MAPIT) study which tests the effectiveness of MI.

Motivational Interviewing: Facilitating Behaviour Change by S. Barrett

A review of the basics of MI.

Motivational Interviewing Training in Criminal Justice: Development of a Model Plan by M. Alexander, S. VanBenschoten, and S. Walters

An explanation of the eight stages of learning MI and guidance on how to train officers to incorporate MI into client supervision.
Motivational Interviewing: History, How it Works, Effectiveness  A review of the basics of MI including the four techniques of the MI process: engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning.

Outcomes of Motivational Interviewing Training with Probation and Parole Officers: Findings and Lessons Learned by M. Iarussi and D. Powers

A study which investigated the outcomes of officers who completed MI training. The study also provides recommendations on how to improve MI trainings.
Motivational Interviewing Reminder Card A two-page card providing tips on conducting MI.

BP WORKGROUP

A newly created workgroup, led by the Best Practices Unit, will look at best practices and its practical applications throughout all aspects of departmental functions. This group will provide their feedback and input in helping the Department not only explore and assist with implementation and fidelity of best practices but help the Department continue achieving its goal of being a leader in the industry.

WORKGROUP MEMBERS

 Participant Division
Shereen Khan Best Practices and Innovation Strategies Team
Estial Lett Best Practices and Innovation Strategies Team
Holly Axe Best Practices and Innovation Strategies Team
Elijah Booker Juvenile Facilities
Richetta Bottom Juvenile Facilities
Anthony Cole Adult Field Services
Fred Dabbs Juvenile Field Services
Brian Deburr Juvenile Field Services
Craig Emmons Juvenile Field Services
Antonio Gomez Juvenile Field Services
Janene Grigsby Administration
Angelika Laszuk Juvenile Facilities
Natalia Milner Adult Field Services
Adrienne Mitchell Adult Field Services
Tamara Scott Juvenile Field Services
Norma Torres Adult Field Services
Monique Woods Juvenile Facilities
Tyler Zatcoff Administration

 

TEAM

 
Name  Classification Title 
Chisty Henzi Director, Best Practices and Professional Development
Estial Lett, MPA, CEBP  Unit Supervisor

Rownee Winn 

Deputy Probation Officer III

Shawntea Williams

Deputy Probation Officer III

Jannet Bonilla

Probation Specialist

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