CSO Certification Review Questions
with Correct Answers 2025/2026
4 purposes for introduction - CORRECT ANSWER -1) State the purpose of the interview
2) Set expectations
3) Clarify roles
4) Explain confidentiality
(TRAS is a semi structured interview and allows you to ask additional questions)
Risk principle - CORRECT ANSWER -Supervision and treatment resources should be prioritized
for probationers at higher risk to reoffend.
- Treatment effects are strongest on high risk.
- Treatment effects can be effectively harmful for low risk.
- Low risk probationers often self correct.
- Offense type is not predictive of risk.
- Risk does not determine how dangerous a probationer is.
Action - CORRECT ANSWER -The individual begins their plan. This is a very difficult stage
because the comfort of past habits while developing new ones.
TRAS screeners - CORRECT ANSWER -Misdemeanor tool - 6 items
Felony tool - 7 items
Screeners are used to filter out "low risk" probationers.
Not all departments use screeners.
Scoring guide - CORRECT ANSWER -- Must be followed when scoring items.
,- Follow as directed.
- Do not override scoring guide.
- Cannot be modified.
Problem components - CORRECT ANSWER -- Where client scored highest on TRAS.
- Work on primary risk factors first.
- Criminogenic targets: reduce risk
- Non-criminogenic targets: reduce barriers but not risk.
Responsivity tools - CORRECT ANSWER -- 17 items
- Filled out by probationer.
- Used to obtain information about probationer.
- Not required but recommended by trailers to increase likely hood of success on probation.
Barriers to listening - CORRECT ANSWER -1) Internal/external distractions
2) Anticipating responses
3) Interrupting
4) Assuming meaning
5) Imposing stereotypes
Responsivity issues - CORRECT ANSWER -- Mental health
- Medication
- Reading/writing
- Cultural barriers
- History of abuse
- Childcare
,- Low intelligence
Primary risk factors - CORRECT ANSWER --Antisocial attitudes
- Antisocial peers
- Antisocial personality
- History of antisocial behaviors
*exist on their own, independent of other factors*
9 tips for effective listening - CORRECT ANSWER -1) Maintain eye contact
2) Minimize internal/external distractions
3) Respond appropriately
4) Focus on what is said
5) Ask clarifying questions
6) Keep an open mind
7) Engage in the interview
8) Let probationer complete his/her thoughts
9) Take notes
6 factors of case planning - CORRECT ANSWER -1) TRAS results
2) Prioritize targets for change
3) Develop goals/objectives based on highest criminogenic needs and domains
4) Remove barriers by addressing responsivity issues.
5) Track on going progress
6) Reassess using TRAS to determine if progress has been made and if any new areas of concern
arise.
, Antisocial attitudes - CORRECT ANSWER -- Crime is a way of life/distrust of authority/thinking
drives behavior.
- Research indicates it is the #1 risk factor.
- What probationers think NOT how they think.
- Antisocial/ pro-criminal values, beliefs, cognitive emotional state.
Responding during assessment interview - CORRECT ANSWER -1) Restate
2) Reflect
3) Summarize
*These skills help by:
- Compels the client to continue.
- Puts the focus on the client
- Broadens the conversation
- More likely to result in an honest response
- Increases rapport building and information gathering
Importance of case planning - CORRECT ANSWER -- Provides structured approach to case
management
- Documents intervention and progress
- Provides probationer with concrete expectations
- Guides decision making
- Helps maintain focus on criminogenic needs
By working on criminogenic needs you better reduce the probationers risk to re-offend.
Maintenance - CORRECT ANSWER -New habits have been established but old habits are still
tempting in crisis lapse's to old habits may occur.
with Correct Answers 2025/2026
4 purposes for introduction - CORRECT ANSWER -1) State the purpose of the interview
2) Set expectations
3) Clarify roles
4) Explain confidentiality
(TRAS is a semi structured interview and allows you to ask additional questions)
Risk principle - CORRECT ANSWER -Supervision and treatment resources should be prioritized
for probationers at higher risk to reoffend.
- Treatment effects are strongest on high risk.
- Treatment effects can be effectively harmful for low risk.
- Low risk probationers often self correct.
- Offense type is not predictive of risk.
- Risk does not determine how dangerous a probationer is.
Action - CORRECT ANSWER -The individual begins their plan. This is a very difficult stage
because the comfort of past habits while developing new ones.
TRAS screeners - CORRECT ANSWER -Misdemeanor tool - 6 items
Felony tool - 7 items
Screeners are used to filter out "low risk" probationers.
Not all departments use screeners.
Scoring guide - CORRECT ANSWER -- Must be followed when scoring items.
,- Follow as directed.
- Do not override scoring guide.
- Cannot be modified.
Problem components - CORRECT ANSWER -- Where client scored highest on TRAS.
- Work on primary risk factors first.
- Criminogenic targets: reduce risk
- Non-criminogenic targets: reduce barriers but not risk.
Responsivity tools - CORRECT ANSWER -- 17 items
- Filled out by probationer.
- Used to obtain information about probationer.
- Not required but recommended by trailers to increase likely hood of success on probation.
Barriers to listening - CORRECT ANSWER -1) Internal/external distractions
2) Anticipating responses
3) Interrupting
4) Assuming meaning
5) Imposing stereotypes
Responsivity issues - CORRECT ANSWER -- Mental health
- Medication
- Reading/writing
- Cultural barriers
- History of abuse
- Childcare
,- Low intelligence
Primary risk factors - CORRECT ANSWER --Antisocial attitudes
- Antisocial peers
- Antisocial personality
- History of antisocial behaviors
*exist on their own, independent of other factors*
9 tips for effective listening - CORRECT ANSWER -1) Maintain eye contact
2) Minimize internal/external distractions
3) Respond appropriately
4) Focus on what is said
5) Ask clarifying questions
6) Keep an open mind
7) Engage in the interview
8) Let probationer complete his/her thoughts
9) Take notes
6 factors of case planning - CORRECT ANSWER -1) TRAS results
2) Prioritize targets for change
3) Develop goals/objectives based on highest criminogenic needs and domains
4) Remove barriers by addressing responsivity issues.
5) Track on going progress
6) Reassess using TRAS to determine if progress has been made and if any new areas of concern
arise.
, Antisocial attitudes - CORRECT ANSWER -- Crime is a way of life/distrust of authority/thinking
drives behavior.
- Research indicates it is the #1 risk factor.
- What probationers think NOT how they think.
- Antisocial/ pro-criminal values, beliefs, cognitive emotional state.
Responding during assessment interview - CORRECT ANSWER -1) Restate
2) Reflect
3) Summarize
*These skills help by:
- Compels the client to continue.
- Puts the focus on the client
- Broadens the conversation
- More likely to result in an honest response
- Increases rapport building and information gathering
Importance of case planning - CORRECT ANSWER -- Provides structured approach to case
management
- Documents intervention and progress
- Provides probationer with concrete expectations
- Guides decision making
- Helps maintain focus on criminogenic needs
By working on criminogenic needs you better reduce the probationers risk to re-offend.
Maintenance - CORRECT ANSWER -New habits have been established but old habits are still
tempting in crisis lapse's to old habits may occur.
