ABSTRACT
When properly utilized to its fullest potential, a validated, general risk and need assessment instrument may drive nearly every subsequent criminal justice decision made on behalf of justiceinvolved individuals, regardless of whether the instrument is conducted at the front end of the system during pre-trial, or at the back end during parole or post-release supervision. Nearly every decision point is improved in some way from the assessment information obtained, whether that decision is made by a judge, probation officer, correctional counselor, parole board or case manager. Without actuarial risk and need assessment, our communities would undoubtedly be far less safe, and we might still be under the assumption that “nothing works” to reduce recidivism (Martinson, 1974).
