>Users:   login   |  register       > email     > people    


Positive Direction for Change
By Les Pozsgi, WY DOC - Administrator, Division of Field Services
Published: 07/19/2010

Positive change “Providing incentives and rewarding specific desired behavior motivates individuals to work toward long term behavior change.” This simple statement is the tenet for supervision strategies developed and utilized with offenders under probation or parole in our communities. These strategies focus on public safety, victim protection and restitution, offender accountability, consistent and effective sanctioning, addressing substance abuse issues, reducing offender unemployment and most critically, reducing recidivism through long term behavior modification.

The Positive Reinforcements, Incentives and Sanction Matrix (PRISM) provide guidance for the initiation of positive reinforcement and imposing of sanctions. This matrix is in grid form, identifies common behaviors, both desirable and undesirable and responses to both. Many community correction agencies across the nation employ similar matrix to guide decisions around offender supervision. PRISM is unique with the identification and use of positive rewards to provide incentives, recognize specific behavior, motivate offenders and achieve long term behavior change. This focus on positive direction for change is a true example of the Department’s progressive efforts and is on the leading edge for community corrections.

How we operationalize this evidence-based practice include:
  • Assess actuarial risk and need
  • Enhance intrinsic motivation
  • Target interventions using

    • Risk principles – that prioritize supervision and treatment
    • Need principles – to target interventions based on criminogenic needs
    • Dosage – structure offender time
    • Responsivity – be responsive to offender need and target predictors of recidivism

  • Match the client with the right intervention
  • Increase positive reinforcement
  • Strengthen pro-social influences
  • Measure relevant processes/practices
  • Provide feedback

Community supervision protocol are established through “Encouraging Desired Behavior and Responding to Violations” policy and supported by the “Positive Reinforcements, Incentives and Sanction Matrix (PRISM).” Field staff promote desired behavior as a mechanism to reduce the likelihood of violations of conditions of supervision and to effect long term change. A case plan is developed in partnership with the offender to assess motivation for change, identify goals with associated desired behaviors and to maximize focus on achieving pro-social changes. Motivational Interviewing (MI), knowledge of change principles and cognitive behavioral interventions are critical skills used during community supervision. Positive reinforcement will apply when progress toward positive change is realized and may include awards, increased liberties, reduction in supervision and consideration/request for early discharge.

Undesired behaviors and violation behaviors are addressed through an established system of graduated sanctions which may vary from verbal reprimand, increased contacts, and written assignments to curfew, travel restrictions, supervision level regression or extension and in specific situations, loss of liberty. Sanctions are consistent, address specific undesired behaviors and violations that necessitate change and require the offender’s collaboration in the form of a sanction agreement to ensure that the response is meaningful and relevant to the offender.

Protocols used to train staff in these supervision skill sets is also unique with the incorporation of those developmental methodology associated with the Department’s Management Development for the Future (MDF) leadership training. Pre and post work assignments were developed and coaching sessions employed. Training opportunities are also provided to members of the Board of Parole and community correction program staff. A supportive partnership focusing on this system of incentives, rewards and sanctions with local judiciary continues to grow with recognition and respect for local judicial practice.

This is an exciting opportunity for the Department and Division of Field Services.

Re-printed with permission

Comments:

  1. hamiltonlindley on 03/23/2020:

    He has blue eyes. Cold like steel. His legs are wide. Like tree trunks. And he has a shock of red hair, red, like the fires of hell. His antics were known from town to town as he was a droll card and often known as a droll farceur. Hamilton Lindley with his madcap pantaloon is a zany adventurer and a cavorter with a motley troupe of buffoons.

  2. peterdoak21 on 01/16/2020:

    Being the compact city that it is, Sheffield is pretty easy to get around, so whether you fancy clocking up some steps or jumping on a bus/tram, there are some really interesting districts close to the city centre just waiting to be discovered. manchester taxi hire drayton manor minibus hire minibus hire falkirk minibus hire slough cheap minibus coach hire

  3. faizan on 12/17/2019:

    Make the most of mainly premium substances - you will find him or her for: frog design

  4. faizan on 12/17/2019:

    Very interesting information, worth recommending. However, I recommend this: one pearl bank price

  5. faizan on 12/16/2019:

    On this page, you'll see my profile, please read this information. 안전놀이터

  6. faizan on 12/16/2019:

    On this page, you'll see my profile, please read this information. 안전놀이터

  7. faizan on 12/13/2019:

    On my website you'll see similar texts, write what you think. drywall repair

  8. faizan on 12/12/2019:

    Interesting and interesting information can be found on this topic here profile worth to see it. детски стаи шумен

  9. faizan on 12/09/2019:

    On that website page, you'll see your description, why not read through this. 스포츠중계

  10. faizan on 12/08/2019:

    I've proper selected to build a blog, which I hold been deficient to do for a during. Acknowledges for this inform, it's really serviceable! 온라인카지노

  11. faizan on 10/09/2019:

    Once I thought about things like: why such information is for free here? Because when you write a book then at least on selling a book you get a percentage. Thank you and good luck on informing people more about it… offshore software development belarus

  12. faizan on 10/06/2019:

    Thanks for writing such a good article, I stumbled onto your blog and read a few post. I like your style of writing... 바카라필승법

  13. faizan on 10/02/2019:

    I use basically superior fabrics : you will discover these products by: Daftar SBOBET

  14. redball12345671211 on 09/24/2019:

    Your article brings a lot of valuable information. return man 4

  15. Adan Schimmel on 09/18/2019:

    Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbour were preparing to do some research about that. We got a good book on that matter from our local library and most books where not as influensive as your information kitchen appliances reviews

  16. faizan on 09/18/2019:

    I am a new user of this site so here i saw multiple articles and posts posted by this site,I curious more interest in some of them hope you will give more information on this topics in your next articles. Appliance Technician Ltd.

  17. Adan Schimmel on 09/10/2019:

    Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbour were preparing to do some research about that. We got a good book on that matter from our local library and most books where not as influensive as your information DPE Result Date 2019

  18. faizan on 08/25/2019:

    I simply want to tell you that I am new to weblog and definitely liked this blog site. Very likely I’m going to bookmark your blog . You absolutely have wonderful stories. Cheers for sharing with us your blog. Bitcoin Price

  19. faizan on 08/18/2019:

    I've proper selected to build a blog, which I hold been deficient to do for a during. Acknowledges for this inform, it's really serviceable! 카지노사이트

  20. Adan Schimmel on 08/17/2019:

    Hi students, On this page, I am going to share Meghalaya Board class 10th Model Paper 2020 You can download these sample papers in pdf format for free. These Meghalaya Board 10th Question Paper 2020 are made by the official website of Meghalaya Board of Secondary Education www.mbose.in

  21. Adan Schimmel on 08/08/2019:

    ISP Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is the pioneer telecom in India, and the policies were further modified to introduce ISPs in the market, Several companies (Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio Aircel, ACT, Vodafone, Idea Cellular) joined the Indian market, and BSNL Teleservices provides the best information on all telecom and infra services provided by BSNL, and the telephone density in the sector has increased more day by day.

  22. cathy on 07/19/2019:

    Nice to see the details you have specified here. Here it paris sightseeing tours specifies the positive direction for change. Positive thinking is always better to live a good life. Always stay positive if the situation is not good at all. That will definitely help to improve the situation.

  23. Adan Schimmel on 07/08/2019:

    I didn’t have much to do, so I decided to give this article a read. After reading it, I am thinking I should've https://fr.altosplitpdf.com/ read it a bit earlier. The content available here helped me with this project I am working on.

  24. Juliet Gilbert on 06/18/2019:

    News article is dispensed for the collection of the files for the humans. The content of the news and paperial reviews are mutual for the prisons. The assignment is filed for the pertinent use of the offers for the methods for the students in this ambit.

  25. faizan on 05/23/2019:

    I invite you to the page where you can read with interesting information on similar topics. Dallas SEO

  26. faizan on 05/23/2019:

    The most interesting text on this interesting topic that can be found on the net ... Application Training

  27. faizan on 05/23/2019:

    For many people this is important, so check out my profile: numbers for kids

  28. faizan on 05/23/2019:

    Find the best essays on is my friend's profile page. bookkeeping classes near me

  29. faizan on 05/21/2019:

    I encourage you to read this text it is fun described ... voyance-amour-eternel.com


Login to let us know what you think

User Name:   

Password:       


Forgot password?




correctsource logo




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of The Corrections Connection User Agreement
The Corrections Connection ©. Copyright 1996 - 2024 © . All Rights Reserved | 15 Mill Wharf Plaza Scituate Mass. 02066 (617) 471 4445 Fax: (617) 608 9015