Advancing Fairness and Transparency: National Guidelines for Post-Conviction Risk and Needs Assessment
Past events
Addressing the Equity and Fairness of Assessments: How the National Guidelines Can Transform Agencies’ Communication and Use of Post-Conviction Risk and Needs Assessments
September 26, 2024
Community Supervision Resource Center
Until now, criminal justice agencies have lacked clear guidance on how to communicate the strengths and limitations of risk and needs assessments. To address this, a set of 13 national guidelines was developed to help agencies prioritize accuracy, fairness, transparency, and effective communication and use of these tools. These guidelines represent a significant step toward a more equitable and effective criminal justice system by providing agencies with a consistent framework for developing and using risk and needs assessments. By following these guidelines, agencies can enhance accuracy and fairness, helping ensure better outcomes for people after incarceration.
This session discussed the challenges agencies have encountered, the solutions they have created, and where the field needs to improve regarding risk and needs assessments. Presenters described the benefits of adhering to the national guidelines and discussed the findings received through the supplementary self-assessment tool.
Speakers
- David A. D’Amora, Senior Policy Advisor, The Council of State Governments Justice Center
- Sarah L. Desmarais, President and CEO, Policy Research Associates
- Brian Mirasolo, Deputy Commissioner, Field Services, Massachusetts Probation Service
Assessing Fairly: Introduction to the National Guidelines for Post-Conviction Risk and Needs Assessments
July 18, 2024
Webinar for the National Association of Probation Executives
The United States has not followed a coherent set of guidelines on the development and use of risk and needs assessment, and most states and counties have not tested their instruments for accuracy and fairness across race, ethnicity, and gender. In partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center worked with a group of 26 national experts, including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, to develop a set of 13 practical guidelines and a suite of practical resources that advise criminal justice agencies on the use of post-conviction risk and needs assessments. The guidelines prioritize accuracy, fairness, transparency, and effective communication and use of post-conviction risk and needs assessments. This presentation aims to discuss the benefits of technical assistance in adopting the 13 national guidelines while supporting their overarching mission of improving evidence-based practices.
Speakers
- David A. D’Amora, Senior Policy Advisor, The Council of State Governments Justice Center
- Kendra Carroll, Policy Analyst, The Council of State Governments Justice Center
Assessing Fairly: Introduction to the National Guidelines for Post-Conviction Risk and Needs Assessments
January 29, 2024
American Probation and Parole Association 2024 Winter Training Institute
The United States has not followed a coherent set of guidelines on the development and use of risk and needs assessment, and most states and counties have not tested their instruments for accuracy and fairness across race, ethnicity, and gender. In partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center worked with a group of 26 national experts to develop a set of 13 practical guidelines and a suite of practical resources that advise criminal justice agencies on prioritizing accuracy, fairness, transparency, and effective communication and use of post-conviction risk and needs assessments. This session provided an overview of the national guidelines project, described the benefits of adhering to the national guidelines, discussed the supplementary self-assessment tool, provided information about how agencies can apply for technical assistance, and identified the first group of states receiving technical assistance and their areas of priority. A group of panelists who are prominent leaders in the field spoke about related research, specific challenges agencies have encountered, and efforts to adopt the national guidelines.
Speakers
- David A. D’Amora, Senior Policy Advisor, The Council of State Governments Justice Center
- Brian Mirasolo, Deputy Commissioner, Massachusetts Probation Service
- Tami Jo Lieberg, Director Community Corrections, Kandiyohi Community Corrections
- Lahiz P. Tavárez, Project Manager, The Council of State Governments Justice Center
New Opportunities to Implement the National Guidelines for Post-Conviction Risk and Needs Assessment
March 7, 2023
Hosted by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance
In partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center worked with a group of 26 national experts, including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, to develop practical guidelines that advise criminal justice agencies on the use of post-conviction risk and needs assessment. The guidelines prioritize accuracy, fairness, and transparency in the communication and use of risk and needs assessment. The guidelines’ associated resources were developed with a variety of audiences in mind, including legislators, administrators, practitioners, and researchers. This webinar introduced the 13 guidelines, provided an overview of the suite of resources available, and announced new opportunities available for states to receive support with implementation of the guidelines.
Speakers:
- David A. D’Amora, Senior Policy Advisor, CSG Justice Center
- Dr. Sarah L. Desmarais, PhD, President, Policy Research Associates
- Charles Robinson, Deputy Chief, Probation and Pretrial Services Office Administrative Office of the United States Courts
- Dr. Heather Tubman-Carbone, PhD, Senior Policy Advisor, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice
- Stevyn Fogg, Director, Governance & Strategic Initiatives, Correctional Leaders Association
- Veronica Ballard Cunningham, Executive Director/CEO, American Probation and Parole Association
- Anne L. Precythe, Director, Missouri Department of Corrections
- Lahiz P. Tavárez, Project Manager, CSG Justice Center
- Brian Mirasolo, Massachusetts Deputy Commissioner Probation Service