THE RISK-NEED-RESPONSIVITY MODEL 1
The Risk-Need-Responsivity Model
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Date
, THE RISK-NEED-RESPONSIVITY MODEL 2
Abstract
The risk-need-responsivity model can be traced back to the 1980s in Canada during the
“nothing works” heyday pessimism surrounding offender rehabilitation. The RNR model is a
tool used to formulate principles of effective intervention strategies for the correctional
population. This model states that the strategies that are appropriate for addressing the
criminogenic factors of an individual before and after release are determined by the risks and
needs of the incarcerated individual. Leading scholars in criminal justice including James
Bonta and don Andrews claim that the RNR model is based on three principles. These
principles include the risk principle, the need principle, and the responsivity principle.
Countries like America that boast of a developed economy, provision of specialized treatment
for the sex offenders who have been convicted to reduce recidivism emerges as a common
approach towards protecting communities from sexual offending. Pharmacotherapy and
psychotherapy interventions have been widely spread as treatment options delivered within
programs meant to prevent recidivism among sex offenders. In an attempt to evaluate the
effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy interventions delivered within programs
to reduce recidivism among convicted sex offenders, a structured overview of systematic
reviews published in English since 1998 was conducted. Eight of the systematic reviews met
the inclusion criteria and seven of them suggested that cognitive behavioral therapy delivered
within programs adhering to the RNR model has the potential to reduce recidivism among the
convicted sex offenders.
The Risk-need-Responsivity model
According to Bijleveld,2007; Brennan & Taylor-Butts, 2008; Center for sex offender
management, 2008, sexual offending is both a public health issue and a social challenge. The
phenomena of sex offending have emerged to be an enormous issue to the policymakers as a
The Risk-Need-Responsivity Model
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Date
, THE RISK-NEED-RESPONSIVITY MODEL 2
Abstract
The risk-need-responsivity model can be traced back to the 1980s in Canada during the
“nothing works” heyday pessimism surrounding offender rehabilitation. The RNR model is a
tool used to formulate principles of effective intervention strategies for the correctional
population. This model states that the strategies that are appropriate for addressing the
criminogenic factors of an individual before and after release are determined by the risks and
needs of the incarcerated individual. Leading scholars in criminal justice including James
Bonta and don Andrews claim that the RNR model is based on three principles. These
principles include the risk principle, the need principle, and the responsivity principle.
Countries like America that boast of a developed economy, provision of specialized treatment
for the sex offenders who have been convicted to reduce recidivism emerges as a common
approach towards protecting communities from sexual offending. Pharmacotherapy and
psychotherapy interventions have been widely spread as treatment options delivered within
programs meant to prevent recidivism among sex offenders. In an attempt to evaluate the
effectiveness of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy interventions delivered within programs
to reduce recidivism among convicted sex offenders, a structured overview of systematic
reviews published in English since 1998 was conducted. Eight of the systematic reviews met
the inclusion criteria and seven of them suggested that cognitive behavioral therapy delivered
within programs adhering to the RNR model has the potential to reduce recidivism among the
convicted sex offenders.
The Risk-need-Responsivity model
According to Bijleveld,2007; Brennan & Taylor-Butts, 2008; Center for sex offender
management, 2008, sexual offending is both a public health issue and a social challenge. The
phenomena of sex offending have emerged to be an enormous issue to the policymakers as a
