ABSTRACT
Andrews and Bonta’s (2010) Risk, Need, Responsivity (RNR) model of correctional assessment and treatment has important theoretical implications and practical applications in the fields of criminology, criminal justice, and forensic psychology. First, many of the theoretical models proposed in criminology are based on risk factors for continued offending. Second, the notion of evidence-based practice depends on our ability to target dynamic criminogenic needs and facilitate change. Third, policy recommendations in criminal justice are often driven by responsivity or the need to individualize responses to achieve better outcomes. This just said, need and responsivity can be just as important as risk to criminological theory, risk and responsivity can be just as important as need to evidence-based practice, and risk and need can be just as important as responsivity to criminal justice policy. In a manner of speaking, risk, need, and responsivity can be viewed as a three-sided coin in which the sides are complementary, equivalent, and inextricably linked.
