III. Behavior and Change:
Communication Tools

Within each part of the interview, Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills can be highly effective in eliciting information and assisting resistant, ambivalent people with behavioral change (Miller and Rohnek, 2002).

Key MI techniques are "reflections," the restatement by staff of what an offender has just said in a way that helps him see the flaws in his thinking or understanding of a situation, and "developing discrepancy," pointing out inconsistencies in what an offender says he wants and what he does. MI urges staff to avoid arguments that can destroy rapport with offenders, and to "roll with resistance" when particular issues might be better addressed at a later time.

Motivational Interviewing is useful throughout the supervision process, helping spur interest in change at the engagement stage, and providing critical feedback to reinforce progress at the change and maintenance phases. It helps offenders learn to "analyze" their own behavior and figure out themselves how to advance their behavioral change. This can occur only if the emphasis of supervision contacts is on building rapport with offenders to empower the offender to change on his/her own. Staff communicate with offenders not just in what is said during formal discussions.

Everything staff does and says communicates to offenders what constitutes acceptable and pro-social behavior. People often need to see behaviors demonstrated before they can learn them themselves. Staff should model and reinforce pro-social and acceptable behavior throughout the supervision period, including appropriate salutations, promptness and respect.