II. Matching Offenders and Services

Responsivity Continued:

Individual interest can be another driving force behind how well a service will function for a particular offender. Targeting services toward what an offender is interested in - learning to read, for instance - can greatly improve their participation in that program and the results. It also demonstrates that staff is listening to offenders and helps with offenders' "buy-in" to the supervision plan. The services, of course, must address criminogenic needs. An offender's past experiences with services is another clue to responsivity. If an offender has been through a particular program several times without apparent impact, it is time to try something new.

Responsivity also involves the working relationship between the service provider and the supervision agency. Staff must have the ability to share information with service providers to gain a complete picture of offenders' needs and behavior. Bad working relationships often result in little or no sharing of information. A good relationship allows staff and providers to work together toward the goal of maximum recidivism reduction.