Texas CSO Certification Study Guide EXAM
2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Evidence-based practices are: - ANS -are approaches empirically researched and proven to
have measurable, positive outcomes
Interventions are considered effective when they what: - ANS -reduce risk and recidivism
Evidence based practices emphasize the use of what: - ANS -validated assessment tool and
treatments
TRAS will help make decisions regarding what: - ANS -how to most effectively supervise the
probationers
Does punishment alone reduce recidivism: - ANS -no evidence has been found that
punishment alone reduces recidivism
Prosocial behaviors are: - ANS -law abiding behaviors
-concern for others rights, feeling, and welfare
-behaving in a way intended to help other people
Antisocial behaviors are: - ANS -law breaking behaviors
1
-disregard for rules, laws, and authority
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@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
, 4 principles of effective intervention: - ANS -Risk principle
-Need principle
-Responsivity principle
-Professional discretion
The Risk Principle states that: - ANS -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: - ANS -strongest on
high risk probationers
-can be harmful to low risk probationers
Low risk probationers are often able to what: - ANS -self-correct
Offense type is or is not predictive of risk: - ANS offense type is not predictive of risk
Risk does or does not determine how dangerous a probationer is: - ANS does not determine
how dangerous a probationer is
The risk principle focuses on what: - ANS -who to target for intervention
Using the risk principle, CSO's have a systematic approach to prioritize supervision and
treatment resources on which probationers: - ANS -probationers higher risk to re-offend
Accurate assessment is what: - ANS -drives effective correctional programs and evidence-
based decision-making
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Page
@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
, Good assessments meet the what: - ANS -risk and needs principle
Assessments allow: - ANS -reduced bias
-assist in decision making
-target dynamic risk factors
-measure change
Dynamic factor are: - ANS -factors that can change
Static factors are: - ANS -factors that can't change
An "agent of change" is who: - ANS -someone who provokes or precipitates significant
change or action in an individual
7 Stages of Change: - ANS -Pre-contemplation
-Contemplation
-Determination
-Action
-Maintenance
-Relapse
-Permanent exit
Pre-contemplation stage of change: - ANS stage where a person is not even contemplating
making a change
Contemplation stage of change: - ANS stage where a person is generally ambivalent-
weighing pros and cons
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Page
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, Determination stage of change: - ANS stage where person makes a firm decision to change-
planning takes place in this stage
Action stage of change: - ANS stage where a person begins their plan- difficult because
person misses comfort of past habits while developing new habits
Maintenance stage of change: - ANS stage where new habits have been established- in crisis
old habits may occur
Relapse stage of change: - ANS stage where continues old behaviors
Permanent exit stage of change: - ANS stage where old habits are no longer tempting- even
during crisis situations
Need principle focuses on what: - ANS -criminogenic needs to target
The need principle states that interventions must be what: - ANS -focused
In community supervision, "dosage" means: - ANS -applying the appropriate intensity and
duration of treatment based on the probationer's risk level and criminogenic needs
The needs principle states that interventions must: - ANS -target the needs that are related
to the probationers law breaking behavior
Risk management: - ANS -determines risk
-applies corresponding sanctions, supervision, and restrictions
-may produce change, but is generally short-term
4
Page
@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Evidence-based practices are: - ANS -are approaches empirically researched and proven to
have measurable, positive outcomes
Interventions are considered effective when they what: - ANS -reduce risk and recidivism
Evidence based practices emphasize the use of what: - ANS -validated assessment tool and
treatments
TRAS will help make decisions regarding what: - ANS -how to most effectively supervise the
probationers
Does punishment alone reduce recidivism: - ANS -no evidence has been found that
punishment alone reduces recidivism
Prosocial behaviors are: - ANS -law abiding behaviors
-concern for others rights, feeling, and welfare
-behaving in a way intended to help other people
Antisocial behaviors are: - ANS -law breaking behaviors
1
-disregard for rules, laws, and authority
Page
@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
, 4 principles of effective intervention: - ANS -Risk principle
-Need principle
-Responsivity principle
-Professional discretion
The Risk Principle states that: - ANS -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: - ANS -strongest on
high risk probationers
-can be harmful to low risk probationers
Low risk probationers are often able to what: - ANS -self-correct
Offense type is or is not predictive of risk: - ANS offense type is not predictive of risk
Risk does or does not determine how dangerous a probationer is: - ANS does not determine
how dangerous a probationer is
The risk principle focuses on what: - ANS -who to target for intervention
Using the risk principle, CSO's have a systematic approach to prioritize supervision and
treatment resources on which probationers: - ANS -probationers higher risk to re-offend
Accurate assessment is what: - ANS -drives effective correctional programs and evidence-
based decision-making
2
Page
@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
, Good assessments meet the what: - ANS -risk and needs principle
Assessments allow: - ANS -reduced bias
-assist in decision making
-target dynamic risk factors
-measure change
Dynamic factor are: - ANS -factors that can change
Static factors are: - ANS -factors that can't change
An "agent of change" is who: - ANS -someone who provokes or precipitates significant
change or action in an individual
7 Stages of Change: - ANS -Pre-contemplation
-Contemplation
-Determination
-Action
-Maintenance
-Relapse
-Permanent exit
Pre-contemplation stage of change: - ANS stage where a person is not even contemplating
making a change
Contemplation stage of change: - ANS stage where a person is generally ambivalent-
weighing pros and cons
3
Page
@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
, Determination stage of change: - ANS stage where person makes a firm decision to change-
planning takes place in this stage
Action stage of change: - ANS stage where a person begins their plan- difficult because
person misses comfort of past habits while developing new habits
Maintenance stage of change: - ANS stage where new habits have been established- in crisis
old habits may occur
Relapse stage of change: - ANS stage where continues old behaviors
Permanent exit stage of change: - ANS stage where old habits are no longer tempting- even
during crisis situations
Need principle focuses on what: - ANS -criminogenic needs to target
The need principle states that interventions must be what: - ANS -focused
In community supervision, "dosage" means: - ANS -applying the appropriate intensity and
duration of treatment based on the probationer's risk level and criminogenic needs
The needs principle states that interventions must: - ANS -target the needs that are related
to the probationers law breaking behavior
Risk management: - ANS -determines risk
-applies corresponding sanctions, supervision, and restrictions
-may produce change, but is generally short-term
4
Page
@COPYRIGHT BRAINBARTER 2025/2026
