Research-based practices designed to appropriately engage the person under supervision in the change process while enhancing the skills and training of professional correctional staff.

Motivational Interviewing 

Motivational interviewing is a well-accepted interviewing strategy, effective when the individual is guided to actively engage in exploring personal ambivalence as well as motivation to engage in a positive change process. 

Progress Toward Motivational Interviewing Proficiency in Corrections
Date: 2013
This study outlines the results of a Colorado staff development program for training and implementation of motivational interviewing across 17 criminal justice agencies in the state of Colorado, comparing methods that produced the best outcomes and results for fidelity and quality assurance.

Outcomes of Motivational Interview Training with Probation and Parole Officers:  Findings and Lessons
Date: December 2018
This study from the Federal Probation Journal shares results on the required motivational interviewing training for probation and parole officers, provides lessons from implementation science, and recommendations for quality assurance and fidelity improvement.

De-escalation Techniques

Verbal Judo

Verbal judo, coined by George Thompson Ph.D., in 1983, when used by trained probation staff, has the potential to improve the management of tense situations by engaging participants in the process of weighing options and identifying practical solutions toward de-escalation or resolution.  

Verbal Judo: Talk Your Way Through Confrontations
Date: August 2000
This article from Police Magazine gives good advice for officers to avoid confrontations.

The Verbal Judo Institute
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This site from Verbal Judo Institute, a fee-based services, provides resources for a host of information regarding de-escalation situations and trainings available.

Crisis Prevention Institute

Crisis Prevention Institute Verbal Diffusion Skills
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The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), a for-profit organization, provides this training programs of strategies and various training techniques and programs for personnel in all settings, including those working in correctional and juvenile facilities. The safety of staff and persons under supervision is paramount, and crisis intervention should be understood for community supervision staff. 

CPI's Top 10 De-Escalation Tips
Date: 2020
This publication and resource from the Crisis Prevention Institute outlines guidance for de-escalating a crisis.

Core Correctional Practices

Core correctional practices (CCP), initially introduced in 1980, address "relationships skills, effective use of reinforcement, effective use of disapproval, effective use of authority, prosocial modeling, cognitive restructuring, social skills training, and problem-solving skills." When delivered by trained staff and reinforced during the supervision process, the potential for increased positive outcomes including the support and encouragement of behavior change for persons under supervision’s part is enhanced. 

The Importance of Coaching: A Brief Survey of Probation Officers
Date: September 2012
As agencies have adopted the training for Core Correctional Practices and officers using more relational and face-to-face meetings with justice-involved individuals as the science has established, this article discusses the challenge of getting officers to use the practices once trained.

Probation Officer Attitudes Towards Staff Training Aimed at Reducing Rearrest
Date: September 2021
This study of Federal probation officers' view on using the STARR program of core correctional practices provides insight into the support and, more importantly, beliefs in using this intervention.

A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of a Model of Community Supervision
Date: December 2015
This 2015 study published in Federal Probation evaluates aspects of using multiple approaches of cognitive-based treatments and motivational interviewing to improve recidivism outcomes.

EPICS

Acronym for Effective Practices in Community Supervision. Within the framework of the risk, need, and responsivity (RNR) principles, EPICS employs a structured approach to train community corrections staff to operationalize both the elements of effective interventions and core correctional practices with community corrections persons under supervision. Additionally, EPICS I was developed to train individuals influencing community corrections persons under supervision, such as mentors, coaches, spiritual leaders, and teachers.  

Effective Practices in Community Support for Influencers (EPICS-I)
Date: 2017
University of Cincinnati Describes This Training for Officers. This one-page overview describes how the EPICS model can guide community supervision staff in applying the core principles of effective interventions through prosocial supports and teaching such "influencers" how to enhance offenders' core skills for success. 

Targeting Antisocial Attitudes in Community Supervision Using the EPICS Model:
An Examination of Change Scores on the Criminal Sentiment Scale
Date: December 2013
This 2013 article from the US Courts outlines the study of criminal attitudes of justice-involved individuals when EPICS was utilized and comparison to STICS and STARR methods.

STICS

STICS, an acronym for Strategic Training Initiative in Community Supervision, is a training initiative designed for community supervision officers to apply the principles of risk, need, and responsivity (RNR) of adult persons under supervision. 

A system-wide implementation and evaluation of the Strategic Training Initiative in Community Supervision (STICS)
Date: April 2021
This 2021 study is the outcome of evaluating the province-wide implementation of the Strategic Training Initiative in Community Supervision (STICS) in British Columbia which evaluates the officer's use of cognitive-based applications of supervision.

Victim Services and Community Supervision

The criminal justice system is complex and multifaceted, particularly in regard to how to interface with victims. Victims often have different or changing needs at various times within the system (i.e. pretrial, sentencing, reentry, post release) that need to be considered and responded to by you, as the PPO.

Community Corrections and Crime Victims
Date: 2016
This desktop guide is here to help you better anticipate and meet the needs of the victims of individuals under supervision

Multnomah County Oregon Victim Services
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An example of community-based victim services.

Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
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An example of community-based victim services

Trauma Informed Practices

There are various models for incorporating Trauma-Informed Practices across organizations, but a “trauma-informed approach incorporates three key elements: (1) realizing the prevalence of trauma; (2) recognizing how trauma affects all individuals involved with the program, organization, or system, including its own workforce; and (3) responding by putting this knowledge into practice”(SAMHSA, 2012, p. 4).

Trauma-informed organizations are invested in their staff and adopt trauma-informed principles; including establishing and providing ongoing support to promote a trauma-informed approach in practice and in addressing secondary trauma and implementing processes that reinforce the safety of the staff.

Trauma Informed Approaches Across the Sequential Intercept Model
Date: August 2022
This report from the Council of State Governments Justice Center describes the impact of trauma among people in the criminal justice system and provides tangible action approaches during different criminal justice intercepts, from community services and law enforcement to community corrections.

ACE – Adverse Childhood Experiences  
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur before a child reaches the age of 18. Such experiences can interfere with a person’s health, opportunities and stability throughout his or her lifetime—and can even affect future generations.

Other

Additional examples of skill building with staff could include building cultural competence with populations experiencing mental health challenges and strengthening supervision relationships between staff and persons under supervision. 

Optimizing Treatment for Your Community: Utilizing Culturally Adapted Evidence-based Treatments
Date: April 2022
This webinar from the SAMHSA GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation provides strategies for treatment for mental and behavioral health settings, which are culturally based programs.

  

Relationship Building for Justice - How the Probation Officer-Client Relationship Can Make the Difference
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This training model is a 30-minute interactive experience created by Strayer University with consultation by David Muhammad, Executive Director of The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR). This module provides demonstrations by practitioners on building relationships and communication skills with persons under supervision for more successful outcomes. 

Surfing the Three Waves of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) in Community Supervision
Date: December 2021
This article reviews three important aspects, “waves”, of cognitive behavioral therapy. It describes activities in each wave that probation officers can use to help clients change thinking and behavior patterns relevant to reoffending. The waves are emphasizing behaviorism, cognitions, the thinking that leads to criminal behavior, and mindfulness and values. It also provides tips for integrating these techniques into office visits.