SOP 107.04: Risk and Needs Assessment

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|
|Policy Number: 107.04|Effective Date: 03/02/2022|Page Number: 1 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Inmate Services Division
(Office of Reentry Services)|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

I. Introduction and Summary:

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) will provide standardized risk and
needs assessments, to include individualized Program Plans that target Criminogenic
Needs, agency directives, and legal mandates.

II. Authority:

A. O.C.G.A. §§ 42-1-1, 42-2-11, and 42-3-2;

B. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 125-4-1-.05, 125-4-1-.06, and 125-3-1-.02;

C. GDC Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): 107.01 Purpose and Objectives –

Access to Counseling Services and Programs; and

D. ACA Standards: 2 CO-1A-14, 2-CO-1E-07, 5-ACI-1E-05, 5-ACI-6A-23, 5-ACI
5E-13, 4-ACRS-2A-07, 4-ACRS-5A-01, 4-ACRS-5A-02, 4-ACRS-5A-03, 4ACRS-5A-05, 4-ACRS-5A-08, 4-ALDF-7D-21, and 4-ALDF-5A-04.

III. Definitions:

A. Next Generation Assessment (NGA) - An automated, actuarial assessment of

risks and needs created for and used on the Georgia correctional population
(offenders and high-risk probationers) that produces risks, needs, and responsivity
scores.

B. Program Plan - List of Programs in the SCRIBE Programs Module that identify

Current Program Plans and Program Completions.

C. Criminogenic Needs - Major risk factors for recidivism, which include substance

use history, lack of education, lack of work skills, poor employment history, antisocial attitudes, peer interactions, as well as other factors identified by research
that create criminogenic (crime-producing) behavior that must be addressed in the
Program Plan.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|
|Policy Number: 107.04|Effective Date: 03/02/2022|Page Number: 2 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Inmate Services Division
(Office of Reentry Services)|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

IV. Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:

A. Overview:

GDC will utilize standardized risk and needs assessments to determine the most
appropriate plan for each offender under its supervision. The following procedure
applies to those evidence-based assessments that have been sanctioned by the
Department. If the site is a designated substance use disorder program, the program
will provide an appropriate range of primary treatment services for alcohol and
other drug abusing offenders that include, at a minimum, the following:

1. [Offender diagnosis;](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3504972);)

2. Identified problem areas;

3. Individual treatment objectives;

4. Treatment goals;

5. Counseling needs;

6. Drug education plan;

7. Relapse prevention and management;

8. Culturally sensitive treatment objectives, as appropriate;

9. Self-help groups as an adjunct to treatment;

10. Prerelease and transitional service needs; and

11. Coordination with community supervision and treatment staff during the

prerelease phase to ensure a continuum of supervision and treatment.

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|
|Policy Number: 107.04|Effective Date: 03/02/2022|Page Number: 3 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Inmate Services Division
(Office of Reentry Services)|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

B. Assessment Process:

1. Upon entry of sentence data into SCRIBE, all offenders sentenced to

supervision by the GDC will receive an automated NGA.

2. The NGA results are updated automatically in SCRIBE each night based upon

information entered into SCRIBE daily.

C. Program Plan:

1. The Program Plan is automatically developed by the NGA and in the SCRIBE

programs module. The plan will address the needs identified by the NGA and
will include recommendations for programming. The NGA and Program Plan
are made available through SCRIBE and can also be seen by the Department
of Community Supervision and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

2. The Program Plan is to be reviewed by the assigned counselor and documented

in SCRIBE. Reviews will take place:

a. Quarterly, with progress toward established goals/tasks, or lack thereof,

appropriately noted; and

b. Upon receipt of a new assignment to the caseload, with existing goals/tasks

reviewed and necessary placements and/or referrals made.

3. The Program Plan is to be manually modified:

a. When an offender is transferred to a new facility or community-based

supervision, which offers needed programs and interventions not available
at the previous assignment;

b. When information is received that would substantially change the needs

established in the existing case plan (e.g., newly disclosed substance abuse
history, change in medical or mental health status);

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|
|Policy Number: 107.04|Effective Date: 03/02/2022|Page Number: 4 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Inmate Services Division
(Office of Reentry Services)|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

c. When requests for an override of the NGA results are required to meet non
automated identified needs, mandates, or court orders. These are to be sent
via SCRIBE through chain of supervision (i.e., Chief Counselor, Asst.
Superintendent, Central Office program override committee); or

d. When override approval/disapproval requests are documented in SCRIBE

notes.

4. All standard counseling/case management contacts (i.e., regularly scheduled

contacts, monthly report contacts, quarterly contacts, and/or non-crisis
contacts) with the offender will address the needs identified in the Program
Plan, progress toward meeting the goals of the plan, and progress in related
programs/interventions.

5. Family members will be encouraged to become involved in the offender’s

treatment, which includes being informed of the offender’s risks, needs, and
prescribed programs/interventions. Upon written approval from the offender,
using the Release of Information Form (Attachment 1), staff are directed to
[share the NGA results and the Program Plan with the family. The Release of](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3505388);)
Information Form complies with applicable federal and state regulations.
[Unless the release of information is required by state or federal law, the](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3505388);)
[offender will sign the consent form prior to the release of information and a](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3504972);)
[copy of the form will be maintained in the offender's case record. The](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3504972);)
[confidentiality of information regarding offenders is protected by law. The](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3505359);)
consent form may include the following items:

a. [Name of person and agency or organization requesting information;](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3504737);)

b. Name of institution releasing information;

c. Specific information to be disclosed and purpose of disclosure;

d. [Signature of offender and date of signature; and](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3504972);)

|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|Policy Name:Risk and Needs Assessment|
|Policy Number: 107.04|Effective Date: 03/02/2022|Page Number: 5 of 5|
|Authority:
Commissioner|Originating Division:
Inmate Services Division
(Office of Reentry Services)|Access Listing:
Level I: All Access|

e. [Signature of employee witnessing the offender's signature. Where statutes](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3504972);)

[direct, consent forms should not be required for release of information to](javascript:standardsMaster.SelectTreeNode(3505388);)
judicial, law enforcement, correctional, and social service authorities
involved with the individual case.

V. Attachments:

Attachment 1: Release of Information Form

VI. Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:

Upon completion, the original copy with all signatures shall be placed in the offender’s
(detainee and inmate) institutional case file.