Using new and reconsidered research in changing criminal behavior

1. A Modern, Scientific Response to
Criminal Action and Behavioral
Change
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2. #1 Client/Helper Alliance
Empathy, Understanding, Competence
#2 Presentation
Organized
Useful
Interesting
#3 Content
Risks, Needs, Receptivity
Motivational Interviewing
Stages of Change
Seven Precursors
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3. 1. There are no societies that are crime free
2. Rates of incarceration vary by a factor of over 20:
• Around 700 per100,000 in Seychelles and U.S. to
• About 30 per100,000 in
Nigeria in Africa
India on the Indian Sub-continent
Oman in Asia
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4. 1. Criminal activity is an inherent part of the
human condition and thus likely difficult to change
2. Culture influences crime and
incarceration –
but no one knows why or how
3. Interventions could thus focus on
behavior, culture and environment, or both
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Despite knowing:

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• Houses were $75,000
• “Back to the Future” was a new movie
• Ronald Reagan was President
• Average incomes were $22,000 per year
• Some current staff were in their cribs
The U.S. has focused on

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• What Works (RNR Model) – Andrews and Bonta
• Criminal Thinking – Samenow
• Motivational Interviewing – Rollnick & Miller
• Stages of Change – Prochaska & DiClemente
• Precursors to Change - Hanna

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9. Despite being 35 years old, much of the research is
still seeking acceptance in many jurisdictions
nationwide
Questions also remain about:
• Identification of appropriate populations
• Best practices for implementation, integration and use
• Fidelity to research or “evidence-based” protocols
• Outcome measures and efficacy
• Staff understanding and mastery
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11. Thinking for Change, recently revised, appeared in 1998
• Houses were $129,000
• Clinton was President
• Bin Laden issued a fatwa
• Some Staff were still in grade school
13 years ago the Good Lives Model (GLM - Ward 2002) appeared and
is reportedly used by 52% of Canadian practitioners, but is mostly
unknown in the U. S. with only 30% acceptance.
(“Desistance” Theory, from 1993, and “Strengths-based approaches
from 1997, continue to be researched)
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12. Questions of concern for
• Sophistication of the materials
• Theoretical justification
• Training
• Fidelity
• Client retention
• Research support
The questions include:
• Definitions of key terms
• Strategies of implementation
• Conceptual coherency
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14. Risk/Needs Assessments - Group vs Individual,
Justice, Skills
Motivational Interviewing - Desire vs Motivation,
Inherency vs Differences
Target Intervention (Receptivity, Second “R” in RNR)
- Awareness, Assessment, Implementation
Skill Training with Directed Practice (“B” in CBT) -
Present, Sufficiency, Relevance
Increase Positive Reinforcement (Bartlett) -
Selection, Coordination, Feedback
Support in Community - Selection, Coordination,
Feedback
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15. New Evidence and the Ultimate in
Scientific Research Confirmation
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16. Based on
Modern (and Reconsidered) Research from, e.g.:
• Neuroscience
• Child Development
• Moral Psychology
• Behavioral Economics
• Intention Implementation
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* John Arden
* Urie Bronfenbrenner
* Walter Sinnot-Armstrong
* Daniel Kahneman
* Peter Gollwitzer

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18. “Behavioral Decision Research
has diffused to other academic areas
in the history of psychology.”
- Max Bazeman
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19. Model A (Popular view)
1. Gather information
2. Evaluate for truthfulness
3. Assess for applicability
4. Consider consequences
5. Make the decision
6. Implement the decision
Model B (New Evidence-based view)
1. Do what we want
(including biases and implicit cognitions)
2. Explain it to ourselves and defend it to others
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21. The “Magic” of the Self
(A “blank-slate” written
upon by experience?)
The Brain and Body
Working Together in
the Environment
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22. It helps explain:
• Why change is so difficult (Inherent, not just decisions)
• Why recidivism is so persistent (Cognitive biases)
• Why we have a “Constraint” problem (Model B)
• Why there is a difference between Education and Training
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23. It helps us work with offenders by:
• Allowing new and better programs to be placed on top
of the older evidence-based research platform
• Understanding human decision making better
• Creating innovated solutions with new insights
• Implementing an easy-to-understand model
• Helping staff and clients work together
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– it creates a
A) Previous research focused on the Competency of Programs:
The right risk, needs and receptivity assessment, CBT techniques,
and program integrity.
B) Current research is used to focus on the Competency of Clients:
Programs need to be operated correctly, and clients need cognitive
enhancement, but clients also need to be willing and able
to DO the right and difficult things.

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– It allows for:
A model that is:
• Easily understood
• Readily accepted approach to behavioral change that is
• Flexible enough to work with individual differences but
• Holds people accountable for their actions.

27. Think of Dr. Kahneman’s “Slow” system
(Model A) as a
Think of Dr. Kahneman’s “Fast” system
(Model B) as an
responds to:
• Information
• Logic
• Reason, and
• Is able to project
into the future
The Rider needs:
Education
responds to:
• Rewards
• Punishment
• Is “NOW” oriented
and does not
consider the future
The Elephant needs:
Training
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• Thinks, plans, considers the future
• Advises the elephant to make better choices
• Gives in to the elephant unless able to distract it
• Creates stories to justify the elephant’s decisions
• Contemplates, obsesses, and overanalyzes
• Prefers thinking easy things over harder necessary things
• Spins its wheels and leads the elephant in circles
• Must monitor elephant until new habits replace old habits
• Tires easily

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• Consists of gut feelings, emotions, and intuitions
• Is the source of our energy & passion
• Has ingrained habits that are tough to change.
• Needs motivation to act
• Is easily demoralized, frightened or derailed
• Seeks instant gratification (limited time horizons

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32. Educate the Rider - Clear direction. Specific, immediate,
manageable steps. Where to go and why.
(Old Insights from M.I. and CBT)
Train the Elephant - Rewards and punishment. Shape
habits with practice, practice, practice. We can't just
think our way into a new behavior.
(New Insights from Neuroscience)
Shape the path - Consciously shape the environment
so it’s easier to make changes.
(New Insights from Behavioral Economics)
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Evidence
Old
New

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35. PROGRAM Competency
“What Works” Principles
Risks CBT
Needs Motivational Interview
Receptivity Program Fidelity
CLIENT Competency
Behavioral Practice
1 Cognitive 4 Typology
2 Social 5 Constraint
3 Emotional 6 Desire
ALL the Evidence
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36. • 34 sessions
• 11 to 13 months to complete, depending on schedule
• Modular – start any time
• Easy referral
• Location
Held at Community Counseling Center in SLO
• Time
9:00 am on scheduled Saturdays
• Director – John L. Gannon, Ph.D.
Mailing address:
J. L Gannon, Ph.D.
P.O. 1099
Grover Beach, CA 93483
Evidence
New
Old
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37. Dr. John Gannon holds a life-time teaching credential from the State of California,
graduate degrees in Philosophy and Psychology, and a doctoral degree in Clinical
Psychology.
He has over 30 years of experience in mental health and criminal justice, including 4
years at Atascadero State Hospital and 8 years at the California Men’s Colony, where
he was Chairman of the Psychology Dept. and Chief of the Medical Staff.
He is an author, international consultant on criminal justice and mental health, and
Executive Director of the International Association for Correctional and Forensic
Psychology.
As a therapist and teacher, he is a master of the pointed metaphor and has a gift for
creating behavioral change with wit and wisdom. He consistently receives the highest
ratings from participants on presentation, content and client satisfaction.
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