Supervision: A Behavioral Management Process to Reduce Recidivism

III. Behavior and Change:
Information Tools

Information is the currency of supervision, and staff is president of the bank.

In the behavior management model, staff serves as the hub of an information network about the offenders under their supervision. Information can come from a wide variety of sources such as:

  1. Past records often may include a vast store of official documents, from prior case files to criminal history records.
  2. Assessments of substance abuse and other problems performed by staff as well as subject-matter specialists.
  3. Self-reports by offenders of key information.
  4. Staff contacts with offenders, in the office, at home and at work, or in the community.
  5. Collateral contacts with an extensive array of family, friends, community members, service providers, law enforcement, and victims.
  6. Drug tests that show whether an offender has been using drugs or alcohol and, if so, what type.
  7. Polygraphs, especially for sex offenders.
  8. Position monitoring systems, including electronic surveillance, voice and facial recognition, Global Positioning Satellite systems, fingerprinting or biometric scanning, automated kiosks, automobile ignition interlocks, and any other electronic means of tracking an offender's location.