Gendreau, Paul, D. A. Andrews, and James Bonta: The Theory of Effective Correctional Intervention

Lori Brusman Lovins

Criminological theories attempt to explain why offending behavior occurs. Rather than offering an explanation for antisocial behavior, the theory of effective intervention provides (1) support for rehabilitation as a correctional strategy and (2) guidelines for successful delivery of services to an offender population. This theory and its components are commonly referred to as the “what works” literature in corrections. The key determinant of an effective intervention is the ability of a service to produce a decreased rate of recidivism, or future criminal involvement, among participants. Effective programming is identified via an expanse of empirical literature on successful correctional practices. This entry briefly describes (1) the evolution of the theory of effective intervention, (2) the importance of the meta-analysis in identifying the characteristics of effective programming, (3) the emphasis on rehabilitation and a human service approach, and (4) the primary principles of the theory, namely the risk, need, responsivity, and fidelity ...

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