Developing a framework for the identification of criminogenic needs in offenders with intellectual disability and personality disorder: the Treatment Need Matrix

Abstract

Purpose – The criminogenic needs and psychological vulnerabilities of offenders with intellectual disability (ID) has only recently received attention within the academic literature. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of an approach to identifying such needs in order to inform treatment planning and service delivery.

Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the methods employed to identify relevant psychological variables for this population, provides an overview of the framework and describes the practices employed to establish the relevance of a range of criminogenic needs.

Findings – A range of psychological variables derived from a systematic literature review are presented in the context of an assessment framework.

Research limitations/implications – The Treatment Need Matrix (TNM) is currently an experimental framework for identifying the needs of offenders with ID (and personality disorder (PD)). Further research is needed to establish the reliability and validity of the tool.

Practical implications – The TNM offers clinicians a practical methodology for determining the significance of a range of psychological variables cited in the literature as relevant treatment targets for offenders with IDs.

Originality/value – The specific criminogenic needs of offenders with ID (and PD) has received little attention within the academic and research communities. This paper offers a novel approach to the identification of relevant treatment targets for individuals with such difficulties.