- This evidence-based/informed system offers components for assessment and pre-treatment, cognitive behavioral curriculum and treatment domains. Changing Offender Behavior is based on research demonstrating that antisocial thoughts and cognitive skill deficits support criminal behavior. The program targets these antisocial thoughts and skill deficits by using a behavioral approach that includes modeling, rehearsing and rewarding.
- The Starting Point Journal evaluates participants’ criminogenic needs and risk of re-offending. In the journal, participants provide information about eight segments of their lives that contribute to their forays into criminal behavior. This information is used during assessments and case management to develop an effective intervention program for each participant.
- The foundation of this Change Companies cognitive-behavioral curriculum is the Changing Offender Behavior core curriculum, presented over 20 two-hour sessions. Through the core cognitive-behavioral module of the program, participants learn about and practice the key skills of identifying, avoiding and coping with situations, thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are high-risk for their criminal behaviors. The core cognitive portion is designed to be a “closed program” in which all participants begin the module at the same time. After progressing through the core module, participants are prepared to apply these skills to various domain-specific modules. All portions of the program are grounded in cognitive and social-learning theories, and employ behavioral techniques such as modeling, reinforcement, role-playing and graduated rehearsal.
