The Moderating Effects of Officer Aptitude on the Application of a Community Supervision Model

• In Event: Community Supervision: Complexity and Effectiveness

Abstract

Over the last decade, researchers and practitioners have attempted to integrate the principles of effective intervention into community supervision settings through the development of supervision models (Bourgon, Bonta, Rugge, Scott, & Yessine, 2010; Latessa, Smith, Schweitzer, & Labrecque, 2012; Robinson, VanBenschoten, Alexander, & Lowenkamp, 2011; Smith, Schweitzer, Labrecque, & Latessa, 2012). These models, in particular Effective Practices in Community Supervision (or EPICS), have produced improvements in a variety of outcomes including increased use of core correctional practices. While much of the literature has focused on post-training results, there is a limited amount of research exploring the moderating effects of pre-existing officer characteristics on such findings. In particular, few researchers have investigated how officers’ pre-training attitudes, professional orientations, and relationship-building techniques impact their aptitude to learn and appropriately use certain skills following training. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing pre- and post-training measures of officers’ skills to understand the influence of these variables on proficient application of the EPICS model. These findings have strong implications for future hiring practices as well as how to best deliver training to officers who demonstrate varying degrees of skill.

Authors

• Kelsey Mattick, University of Cincinnati

• Paula Smith, University of Cincinnati