- Published: September 21, 2022
- Updated: September 21, 2022
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 46
Counseling Counseling The of the organization to be used in this study is the Moore Haven correctional facility. The person interviewed that provided information is Richard Oppelt, who is the Assistant Warden of Operations at the institution. This institution is devoted to instilling correctional behavior to the adult offenders in the state of Florida. Moore Haven correctional facility aims at providing inmate programs to convicts such as correctional programs that aims in instilling good behavior among the law offenders. In the interview with Richard Oppelt, it was identified that the common tool used for correctional activity is the Prevention Assessment Tool. The offenders used in this context and to which the assessment tool applies are adult offenders.
The Prevention Assessment Tool or PAT has various domains that help explain the criminal behavior among adults. In the first domain, charges as well as referrals are employed to assess the possibility of re-offending by the adults. Referrals are included here if they have a qualifying disposition that may include adjudication withheld. The second domain helps to assess information. In initial assessments, behavior is assessed for the past six months. In the final assessment, behavior is assessed in the last four weeks and may incorporate a program administered for four weeks or less. The third domain focuses on employment and use of free time. It establishes what the adult offender does during his or her free time. Community service is also included in this domain and this information helps to evaluate the practicability of various programs used to correct conduct (Phipott&Grimme 2009).
Incorporating this assessment tool will identify the various areas that require technical assistance. This action is possible because the tool is designed to evaluate various crime prevention needs. This tool is particularly helpful because it can access four basic sectors of justice. They include; cross-cutting issues, custodial and non-custodial measures, access to justice, as well as policing.
This assessment tool is administered through paperwork. The assessment tool is, however, not designed to give an in-depth analysis of the offenders and their behaviors. The tool is meant to provide an initial assessment. This assessment is based on aspects such as crime concerns, problems and capacities, and the socio-economic situations. The tool also provides a concrete guide on issues that examine the needs for preventing crime both locally and nationally.
The application of this tool also has associated challenges. This tool uses assumptions. One of them is that crime prevention is not incorporated in criminal justice issues. The tool suggests that the prevention of crime is an integrated and multisectoral endeavor. It should, therefore, not assess the spontaneous factors and vectors that result to crime. The tool ignores the justice system even though the justice system is a key aspect to consider. The justice system plays a key role in the prevention of criminal activities. However, the assessment tool covers a more wide range of actors so as to provide sustainable action.
In a bid to curb the challenges, certain structural features are being incorporated to ensure the effective functionality of the Prevention Assessment Tool. Such aspects include civil society, media and private sector, legislation, government practices, and challenges that may affect specific groups. These aspects will be used to provide overall frameworks that may be used to address the challenges facing crime prevention (Phipott&Grimme 2009).
The Prevention Assessment Tool has been in use since 2008. The tool has not had any major changes, however, measures to decentralize the tool has been placed. Different countries have different responsibilities as well as decentralization arrangements. The tool should not be universal but should be devised according to each country specifications.
Reference
Philpott, D., &Grimme, D. (2009). The workplace violence prevention handbook. Lanham, Md: Government Institutes/Scarecrow Press.