Supervision: A Behavioral Management Process to Reduce Recidivism

III. Behavior and Change

Finally, the plan should be solidified with a behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a document, above and beyond the supervision conditions ordered by the court or parole board, that :

  1. Outlines clearly what is expected of the offender during discrete periods of time;
  2. Outlines specific rewards and consequences that will be delivered when expectations or conditions are met and not met; and,
  3. Outlines services (both supervision and treatment) that the offender will be provided to achieve the change.

Since the behavioral contract evolves from the supervision plan, the behavioral contract also should be developed through a consensus process. This serves to maximize the "buy-in" of the offender as well as reinforce to the offender a better understanding of how the services will assist them in making changes that will contribute to a better life.

The contract should be signed by both offender and staff to indicate that each agrees to its conditions. Rather than being set in stone, supervision plans and behavioral contracts should be continually modified based on offender performance. In many situations, a new contract should be created during each stage of supervision (e.g. engagement, early change, change, and maintenance). This assists offenders in understanding their progress, and realizing that different steps are necessary in the course of behavioral change.

For example, in the engagement period, contracts may be focused more on offenders becoming aware of their own behavioral patterns. One of the first steps might be to have the offender enroll in parenting classes to create some ties to the family or loved ones. A contract during the early change period may address the specific service conditions that are relevant. Finally, contracts in the maintenance phase may include more community supports, such as self-help groups and faith organizations that are relevant to sustaining the progress offenders have made.