Texas CSO Certification Study Guide.Final Test
2026\2027.
Evidence-based practices are:
-are approaches empirically researched and proven to have measurable, positive outcomes
Interventions are considered effective when they what:
-reduce risk and recidivism
Evidence based practices emphasize the use of what:
-validated assessment tool and treatments
TRAS will help make decisions regarding what:
-how to most effectively supervise the probationers
Does punishment alone reduce recidivism:
-no evidence has been found that punishment alone reduces recidivism
Prosocial behaviors are:
-law abiding behaviors
-concern for others rights, feeling, and welfare
-behaving in a way intended to help other people
Antisocial behaviors are:
-law breaking behaviors
-disregard for rules, laws, and authority
4 principles of effective intervention:
-Risk principle
-Need principle
-Responsivity principle
-Professional discretion
The Risk Principle states that:
-supervision and treatment resources should be prioritized for probationers who are at
higher risk to re-offend
Treatment effects have what effect of high and low risk probationers:
,Texas CSO Certification Study Guide.Final Test
2026\2027.
-strongest on high risk probationers
-can be harmful to low risk probationers
Low risk probationers are often able to what:
-self-correct
Offense type is or is not predictive of risk:
offense type is not predictive of risk
Risk does or does not determine how dangerous a probationer is:
does not determine how dangerous a probationer is
The risk principle focuses on what:
-who to target for intervention
Using the risk principle, CSO's have a systematic approach to prioritize supervision
and treatment resources on which probationers:
-probationers higher risk to re-offend
Accurate assessment is what:
-drives effective correctional programs and evidence-based decision-making
Good assessments meet the what:
-risk and needs principle
Assessments allow:
-reduced bias
-assist in decision making
-target dynamic risk factors
-measure change
Dynamic factor are:
-factors that can change
Static factors are:
-factors that can't change
An "agent of change" is who:
-someone who provokes or precipitates significant change or action in an individual
7 Stages of Change:
,Texas CSO Certification Study Guide.Final Test
2026\2027.
-Pre-contemplation
-Contemplation
-Determination
-Action
-Maintenance
-Relapse
-Permanent exit
Pre-contemplation stage of change:
stage where a person is not even contemplating making a change
Contemplation stage of change:
stage where a person is generally ambivalent- weighing pros and cons
Determination stage of change:
stage where person makes a firm decision to change- planning takes place in this stage
Action stage of change:
stage where a person begins their plan- difficult because person misses comfort of past
habits while developing new habits
Maintenance stage of change:
stage where new habits have been established- in crisis old habits may occur
Relapse stage of change:
stage where continues old behaviors
Permanent exit stage of change:
stage where old habits are no longer tempting- even during crisis situations
Need principle focuses on what:
-criminogenic needs to target
The need principle states that interventions must be what:
-focused
In community supervision, "dosage" means:
-applying the appropriate intensity and duration of treatment based on the probationer's
risk level and criminogenic needs
, Texas CSO Certification Study Guide.Final Test
2026\2027.
The needs principle states that interventions must:
-target the needs that are related to the probationers law breaking behavior
Risk management:
-determines risk
-applies corresponding sanctions, supervision, and restrictions
-may produce change, but is generally short-term
Risk reduction:
-determines risk and identify criminogenic needs
-utilizes effective interventions and treatment
-produces long-term change
Primary Risk Factors often exist:
-on their own, independent of other factors
Secondary Risk Factors typically:
-stem from primary risk factors
-are rooted in the behaviors associated with primary risk factors
Primary Risk Factors include:
-antisocial attitudes
-antisocial peers
-antisocial personality
-history of antisocial behavior
Secondary Risk Factors include:
-lack of prosocial family support
-lack of prosocial leisure activities
-lack of education/employment
-drug abuse/addiction
Antisocial attitudes include:
-crime is a way of life
-a distrust of authority
-pro-criminal values, beliefs, cognitive-emotional state
2026\2027.
Evidence-based practices are:
-are approaches empirically researched and proven to have measurable, positive outcomes
Interventions are considered effective when they what:
-reduce risk and recidivism
Evidence based practices emphasize the use of what:
-validated assessment tool and treatments
TRAS will help make decisions regarding what:
-how to most effectively supervise the probationers
Does punishment alone reduce recidivism:
-no evidence has been found that punishment alone reduces recidivism
Prosocial behaviors are:
-law abiding behaviors
-concern for others rights, feeling, and welfare
-behaving in a way intended to help other people
Antisocial behaviors are:
-law breaking behaviors
-disregard for rules, laws, and authority
4 principles of effective intervention:
-Risk principle
-Need principle
-Responsivity principle
-Professional discretion
The Risk Principle states that:
-supervision and treatment resources should be prioritized for probationers who are at
higher risk to re-offend
Treatment effects have what effect of high and low risk probationers:
,Texas CSO Certification Study Guide.Final Test
2026\2027.
-strongest on high risk probationers
-can be harmful to low risk probationers
Low risk probationers are often able to what:
-self-correct
Offense type is or is not predictive of risk:
offense type is not predictive of risk
Risk does or does not determine how dangerous a probationer is:
does not determine how dangerous a probationer is
The risk principle focuses on what:
-who to target for intervention
Using the risk principle, CSO's have a systematic approach to prioritize supervision
and treatment resources on which probationers:
-probationers higher risk to re-offend
Accurate assessment is what:
-drives effective correctional programs and evidence-based decision-making
Good assessments meet the what:
-risk and needs principle
Assessments allow:
-reduced bias
-assist in decision making
-target dynamic risk factors
-measure change
Dynamic factor are:
-factors that can change
Static factors are:
-factors that can't change
An "agent of change" is who:
-someone who provokes or precipitates significant change or action in an individual
7 Stages of Change:
,Texas CSO Certification Study Guide.Final Test
2026\2027.
-Pre-contemplation
-Contemplation
-Determination
-Action
-Maintenance
-Relapse
-Permanent exit
Pre-contemplation stage of change:
stage where a person is not even contemplating making a change
Contemplation stage of change:
stage where a person is generally ambivalent- weighing pros and cons
Determination stage of change:
stage where person makes a firm decision to change- planning takes place in this stage
Action stage of change:
stage where a person begins their plan- difficult because person misses comfort of past
habits while developing new habits
Maintenance stage of change:
stage where new habits have been established- in crisis old habits may occur
Relapse stage of change:
stage where continues old behaviors
Permanent exit stage of change:
stage where old habits are no longer tempting- even during crisis situations
Need principle focuses on what:
-criminogenic needs to target
The need principle states that interventions must be what:
-focused
In community supervision, "dosage" means:
-applying the appropriate intensity and duration of treatment based on the probationer's
risk level and criminogenic needs
, Texas CSO Certification Study Guide.Final Test
2026\2027.
The needs principle states that interventions must:
-target the needs that are related to the probationers law breaking behavior
Risk management:
-determines risk
-applies corresponding sanctions, supervision, and restrictions
-may produce change, but is generally short-term
Risk reduction:
-determines risk and identify criminogenic needs
-utilizes effective interventions and treatment
-produces long-term change
Primary Risk Factors often exist:
-on their own, independent of other factors
Secondary Risk Factors typically:
-stem from primary risk factors
-are rooted in the behaviors associated with primary risk factors
Primary Risk Factors include:
-antisocial attitudes
-antisocial peers
-antisocial personality
-history of antisocial behavior
Secondary Risk Factors include:
-lack of prosocial family support
-lack of prosocial leisure activities
-lack of education/employment
-drug abuse/addiction
Antisocial attitudes include:
-crime is a way of life
-a distrust of authority
-pro-criminal values, beliefs, cognitive-emotional state
