Risk and Needs Assessment in Probation and Parole: The Persistent Gap Between Promise and Practice

Introduction Risk and need assessment (RNA) is a common element of contemporary probation and parole practice in the US. There is widespread agreement that RNA is an important component of offender supervision case management systems, and risk and need assessment instruments and policies are routine components of probation and parole supervision. The term “risk/needs” is a regular element of discourse in agencies of all sizes and jurisdictions ( Gerlinger and Turner 2015).