1 - (IOP 1) Changes in Probation Officer Behavior and Caseload Recidivism Following Training in Cognitive-behavioral Techniques

Increasingly, agencies working with justice-involved clientele are being asked to do more than temporarily sanction or monitor the millions of individuals under their authority; they are expected to positively influence the behavioral trajectories of their clients and reduce reoffending. Therefore, probation officers (POs) are more frequently being trained in active change skills, such as cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBt) to help their clients alter thinking and behavior patterns likely to drive criminal behavior. Several broad questions have emerged regarding PO skills training programs: Can such training change the nature of PO supervision sessions from interactions focused on court-imposed conditions to interactions focused on behavioral changes that will reduce criminal behavior? And does the training translate into reductions in client rearrest? The present study examined changes in PO office visit behavior and changes in caseload recidivism rates, following participation in a cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBt) training program specifically developed for POs. Training was delivered to a diverse group of 39 POs over 10 sessions. PO behavior and skills were assessed using pre- and posttraining audio-recorded office visits. Coders blind to the pre/post nature of the recordings rated them on multiple variables across three domains: (1) Use of CBt, (2) Office Visit Content, and (3) Communication/Relationship Building skills. The 1-year rearrest rate of officers’ pretraining caseload (N = 753) was compared with the 1-year rearrest rate of the posttraining caseload (N = 1,029). At posttraining, POs demonstrated increased use of CBt, greater focus on criminogenic needs (i.e., life areas statistically linked to criminal behavior such as criminal companions, unemployment, maladaptive leisure time, etc.), and improved communication skills. Overall, caseload recidivism rates significantly declined posttraining. Integrating CBt into environments that typically prioritize other goals—such as monitoring court compliance and drug testing—presents distinct challenges, especially when working with some of society’s most marginalized groups. Despite obstacles, findings suggest that CBt-oriented probation enhances the quality of office interactions and is associated with lower recidivism rates.