--- title: A Guide to Select Criminal Justice Risk & Needs Assessments description: Criminal justice assessment tools can improve public safety outcomes and more. Learn how to select the best one for your organization. image: https://www.orbispartners.com/hubfs/shutterstock_1688328106.jpg --- [![Orbis logo with tagline](https://www.orbispartners.com/hubfs/Orbis%20logo%20with%20tagline.png "Orbis logo with tagline")](https://www.orbispartners.com) [![GET STARTED](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/295885/e3774f31-d7aa-4835-ae99-a43130102b90.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/295885/e3774f31-d7aa-4835-ae99-a43130102b90) ** ![Orbis Gradient 6](https://www.orbispartners.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Orbis%20Gradient%206.png?width=3334&name=Orbis%20Gradient%206.png "Orbis Gradient 6") # BLOG Check out Orbis' blog to see articles and content with a focus on criminal and juvenile justice, child welfare, evidence-based interventions, and other matters affecting our communities.  # A Guide to Select Criminal Justice Risk & Needs Assessments Posted by [Orbis Partners](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/author/orbis-partners) on Dec 29, 2022 9:00:00 AM Criminal justice risk and needs assessment tools help courts, corrections agencies, and other justice system stakeholders make informed decisions about an individual’s risks of reoffending and their needs for intervention. The purpose of these justice tools is to identify those who are likely to engage in criminal behavior if they are not provided with appropriate services or supervision. It also helps identify who is likely to remain arrest-free so that case planners can reduce or eliminate participation in supervised programs. #### The Importance of Criminal Justice Risk and Needs Assessment Tools Research shows that using effective criminal justice assessment tools can improve public safety outcomes by helping to determine whether a justice-involved individual should be placed on some form of supervision or assigned for treatment through community-based services. For example, the [Service Planning Instrument](https://www.orbispartners.com/adult-risk-assessment) (SPIn), a promising evidence-based assessment developed by Orbis Partners, has proven to be effective at predicting criminal justice outcomes. Studies of the tool have also found that the presence of strengths exerted a stronger influence on recidivism in the moderate and high-risk groups compared with the lower-risk groups. This understanding of a person’s likelihood of reoffending allows criminal justice system professionals to assign an individual to services and programs focused on rehabilitation rather than punitive measures. With many options for criminal justice risk and needs assessment tools, it’s critical that organizations choose one that is the best fit for the task at hand. #### Guidelines for Selecting the Most Effective Justice Tools The Bureau of Justice Assistance lays out [seven types](https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/pb-selecting-ra-tools.pdf) of decisions that are commonly made with criminal justice risk needs assessments, along with what should be measured to make such decisions, and which tools are the best fit. *Decision #1: Pretrial release/detention, bond determination, supervision.* - **Tool should measure: **Likelihood of not showing up for court and the risk of re-arrest before trial. - **Recommended tool: **Pretrial risk assessment   *Decision #2: Assign to a diversion program or refer to court.* - **Tool should measure: **Likelihood of recidivism, risk of committing a violent crime, and criminogenic needs. - **Recommended tool: **General recidivism risk assessment, violence risk assessment ** ** *Decision #3: Intensity of community-based supervision* - **Tool should measure: **Risk of becoming arrested and the likelihood of violent or sexual reoffence. - **Recommended tool: **General recidivism risk assessment, violence, and sexual offending risk assessments * * *Decision #4: Assigning an individual to community-based programs; case planning.* - **Tool should measure: **Risk of re-offense, criminogenic needs, and responsivity. - **Recommended tool: **Comprehensive risk/needs assessment   *Decision #5: Intensity of treatment and/or care.* - **Tool should measure: **Factors specific to the type of treatment needed, i.e., the severity of an individual’s substance abuse. - **Recommended tool: **Specialized assessments   *Decision #6: Reintegration into the community after incarceration.* - **Tool should measure: **Risk of recidivism and likelihood of violent re-offense. - **Recommended tool: **General recidivism risk assessment, violence risk assessment, and community reintegration needs assessment   *Decision #7: Responding to a supervision violation.* - **Tool should measure: **Likelihood of committing a crime and the risk of violating supervisory regulations. - **Recommended tool: **General recidivism risk assessment   Once an organization or jurisdiction has a clear vision of which decision is being made, an appropriate criminal justice risk and needs assessment can be chosen. #### Using the Service Planning Instrument (SPIn) in the Criminal Justice System Orbis Partners’ Service Planning Instrument (SPIn) is a tool for assessing risk, needs, and strengths in adult criminal justice clients. SPIn includes static factors, historical factors that are unchangeable as a function of intervention, as well as several dynamic factors, changeable needs, and strength factors that can be targeted with evidence-based programs,services and case management approaches. The assessment contains 90 items that are guided by 10 specific domains, including traditional static factors (i.e., criminal history), as well as many dynamic risk factors (i.e., behavioral patterns) that have emerged based on research criminogenic needs research. When your organization requires an effective criminal justice risk and needs assessment for decisions related to general recidivism, consider using SPIn by Orbis Partners. This tool has proven to be effective in probation, parole, re-entry centers, custodial facilities, pre-trial supervision and other contexts where there is a need to predict the likelihood of rearrest and identify relevant needs. A special short version of the tool is also available for assessment at the pre-trial stage. [![Criminal Justice Risk Assessment](https://www.orbispartners.com/hs-fs/hubfs/spin%20download%20template.png?width=263&height=260&name=spin%20download%20template.png)](https://www.orbispartners.com/adult-risk-assessment-brochure)Please download the [SPIn brochure](https://www.orbispartners.com/adult-risk-assessment-brochure) to learn more.     **Orbis Partners provides solutions for criminal justice and human services systems, specializing in designing and implementing services for at-risk client groups. Orbis’ risk/needs assessment tools for youth and adults are designed to guide the casework process by incorporating an individual’s unique set of needs. For more information, visit our Risk Assessments page by **[clicking here](https://www.orbispartners.com/risk-assessments)**.** Tags: [Criminal Justice](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/criminal-justice), [Justice Reform](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/justice-reform), [Adult Risk Assessment](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/adult-risk-assessment) ### Written by [Orbis Partners](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/author/orbis-partners) ### Search ** ### Recent Posts #### [Evidence-Based Assessment Tools for High Caseloads](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/evidence-based-assessment-tools-caseloads) [Orbis Partners](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/author/orbis-partners) 0 Comments #### [Responsivity in Case Planning: Turning Assessment into Action](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/responsivity-in-case-planning) [Orbis Partners](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/author/orbis-partners) 0 Comments #### [AI Contributions to Case Planning in Justice Organizations: Transforming Assessments into Action](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/ai-in-case-planning-risk-assessments) [Orbis Partners](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/author/orbis-partners) 0 Comments ### Tags ### Posts by Tag - [Evidence-Based Practices (36)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/evidence-based-practices) - [Youth Risk Assessment (36)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/youth-risk-assessment) - [At-Risk Youth (33)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/at-risk-youth) - [Criminal Justice (29)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/criminal-justice) - [Juvenile Justice (25)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/juvenile-justice) - [Juvenile Justice Reform (25)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/juvenile-justice-reform) - [Behavioral Health (22)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/behavioral-health) - [Mental Health (21)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/mental-health) - [Adult Risk Assessment (19)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/adult-risk-assessment) - [Agencies & Admin (16)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/agencies-admin) - [Justice Reform (14)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/justice-reform) - [Assessment (13)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/assessment-key-research-library) - [Substance Abuse (8)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/substance-abuse) - [collaborating (7)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/collaborating) - [Cognitive Behavorial Therapy (5)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/cognitive-behavorial-therapy) - [Motivational Interviewing (4)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/motivational-interviewing) - [Case Planning (3)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/case-planning) - [Evidence-Based Interventions (3)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/evidence-based-interventions) - [Women + Girls (3)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/women-girls) - [AI (2)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/ai) - [Assessment (2)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/assessment) - [Juvenile Probation (2)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/juvenile-probation) - [School Safety (2)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/school-safety) - [staff training (2)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/staff-training) - [Child Welfare (1)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/child-welfare) - [Software (1)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/software) - [Trauma-informed (1)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/trauma-informed) - [training (1)](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/tag/training) [see all](https://www.orbispartners.com/blog/how-to-select-best-criminal-justice-risk-needs-assessment#) Quick Links ATLANTA 3500 Piedmont Rd NE Suite 310 Atlanta, GA 30305 OTTAWA Box 520 5550 Manotick Main Street Ottawa, Ontario K4M 1A5 - - - © Copyright 2024 | All Rights Reserved ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=3425345&fmt=gif)