IV. Antecedents, Behaviors, & Consequences

Consequences

Consequences help shape behavior. Positive consequences (rewards) reinforce behaviors while negative consequences (punishments) tend to discourage behavior. A clear set of consequences, both positive and negative, can help people develop a sense of responsibility by letting them know that they are in control of their own future. Offenders in the early stages of change (pre-contemplation and contemplation) often re quire more external controls by the criminal justice system to reinforce the importance of change.

Offenders in the later changes have begun to develop internal controls or the intrinsic motivation to di rect their own behavior. They may need less criminal justice control.