A structured cognitive behavioural approach to the assessment and treatment of violent offenders using offence paralleling behaviour

Abstract

Seizing opportunity for effective intervention, evaluating treatment progress and determining readiness for release are critical tasks for mental health professionals involved in the care and treatment of violent offenders. To assist those concerned with these tasks, to enhance integrity and to ensure comprehensiveness, treatment programmes and structured risk assessment methods have been developed and promoted. The offence paralleling behaviour (OPB) framework has emerged as a potential adjunct to these risk assessment methods and structured treatment programmes. The OPB framework is however in its infancy. This chapter introduces the rationale for structured methodology that may be used to examine similarity in aggressive behaviours across situations and in particular whether aggressive behaviours occurring within custody are offence paralleling. Assessment of similarity is central to the OPB framework. Mental health professionals working within institutions must determine whether behaviours observed within institutions can legitimately be referred to as offence paralleling and therefore whether they are relevant to treatment planning and release decision making. Although OPB may occur prior to a criminal act, this chapter focuses on aggressive acts occurring during incarceration subsequent to an act of aggression. This chapter also explores the potential for the OPB framework to be used as an adjunct to structured treatment programmes and risk assessment methods. Before proceeding, there are two important assumptions implicit to the OPB framework and relevant to aggressive behaviour that require scrutiny: 1. Behaviour within institutions is similar, albeit muted by environmental constraints and opportunity, to past aggressive behaviour occurring outside the institution or in an environment of interest (e.g. a less secure psychiatric setting or supported residential facility). 2. It is possible to reliably identify OPB. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)