Koetzle, D., Ndrecka, M., & Johnson, S. (2021). On the road: The challenges and benefits of agency research. Victims & Offenders, 16(7), 939-949.
This article provides guidance for researchers engaged in applied and translational research drawing on lessons learned from Dr. Ed Latessa.
Latessa, E. J., Johnson, S. & Koetzle, D. (2020). What works (and doesn’t) in reducing recidivism, 2nd Edition. New York: Routledge.
What Works (and Doesn’t) in Reducing Recidivism offers an evidence-based discussion of the latest trends in corrections. Over the last several decades, research has clearly shown that rehabilitation efforts can be effective in reducing recidivism among criminal offenders, but it is clear that treatment is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Justice-involved people vary by gender, age, crime type, and/or addictions, to name but a few ways, and these individual needs must be addressed by providers. Finally, issues such as leadership, quality of staff, and evaluation efforts affect the quality and delivery of treatment services. This text is unique in that it not only discusses the research on "what works" but also addresses the implementation issues faced as practitioners move from theory to practice, as well as the importance of staff, leadership, and evaluation efforts.
Koetzle, D. & Matthews, B. Social capital: (2020). The forgotten responsivity factor. European Journal of Probation, 12(3), 219-237.
The Risk-Need-Responsivity model of correctional intervention has become the cornerstone of correctional practice in the United States. With a primary focus on building human capital through interventions aimed at developing knowledge and skills needed for prosocial behavior, the model enjoys widespread empirical support. This approach, however, has been criticized by desistance-focused scholars for its failure to recognize social capital and the importance of social networks for facilitating behavior change. The current article examines the concept of individual-level social capital and describes how its development can be integrated into the Risk-Need-Responsivity model of correctional interventions as an important responsivity factor. Recommendations include assessing for social capital and strategies for enhancing both bonding and bridging social capital.
Koetzle, D. (2019). The Realities and Myths of Drug Offender Treatment. Presented at TEDx Oneonta, New York.
In this TEDx talk, Debi Koetzle shares the importance of having effective community based interventions for justice-involved people struggling with drug or alcohol use. Drawing on her family’s experience, she reviews the risk-need-responsivity framework and its implications for reducing recidivism and facilitating desistance.
Fanarraga, I., Yang, J., & Koetzle, D. (2022). Intimate partner violence and risk assessment: A systematic review. Submitted to Arnold Ventures. 10.13140/RG.2.2.16901.42724
A meta-analysis and systematic review on the predictive validity of risk assessments with intimate partner violent offenders, with a particular focus on their utility in pretrial settings. Results suggest that the use of validated risk assessments can provide important information to jurisdictions seeking to assess the likelihood of future crime for individuals charged with IPV, including within pretrial settings.
Shaffer, D. K., Kelly, B., & Lieberman, J. D. An exemplar-based approach to risk assessment: Validating the Risk Management Systems instrument. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 22, 167-186. https://doi.org/10.1177/0887403410372989
This study examines the predictive validity of Risk Management Systems (RMS), a fifth-generation risk/needs assessment. In contrast to traditional risk assessments, the RMS uses exemplar-based modeling to classify offenders as high or low risk. Using a sample (N = 830) of individuals on supervised release by the U.S. Probation Office, the analysis explores the relationship between the RMS scores and recidivism. The results indicate that RMS recidivism and violence scores are predictive of arrests, technical violations, and unsuccessful terminations from supervision. However, the utility of the tool may be limited. Policy implications are discussed.
Koetzle, D., Mellow, J., Piñol, D., & Pugliese, K. (2021). Practical Guide to Youth Risk and Need Assessments in Latin America and the Caribbean. American Institutes for Research & John Jay College. [Also available in Español]
Commissioned by USAID and supported by American Institutes for Research, we designed this interactive practical guide for people who work with criminal justice or juvenile justice involved youth. The focus of this guide is on identifying and implementing tools that help to assess and manage the risk of future delinquency and criminal behavior, including violent behaviors. This guide is specifically focused on assessing the risk of reoffending for use in tertiary prevention.