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MDRC George Mason University, Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence!
Informed Consent Form
Title of Research: Evaluation of the Multi-site Demonstration Field Experiment: What Works in Reentry Research (CHAMPS: Changing Attitudes and Motivation in Parolees)
Principal Co-Investigators: Dan Bloom, M.P.P. Faye Taxman, Ph.D.
Collaborating Research Institutions: MDRC George Mason University
RESEARCH PROCEDURES This research is being conducted by Mr. Dan Bloom of MDRC and Dr. Faye S. Taxman at George Mason University (GMU) and is being funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJA). The purpose of this study is to understand the effect that different models of supervision have on outcomes for parolees. Part of this research is to understanding the current practices and organizational climate of the organization. If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete two surveys. First you will be asked to complete an initial baseline survey that will include questions regarding the structure and operations of your organization, and your views about your organization. Approximately three years later you will be asked to complete a survey that will be similar to that first baseline survey. Each survey will take approximately 45-60 minutes to complete. Individual survey findings will not be reported, only aggregate findings will be reported.
RISKS The foreseeable risks or discomforts are that you may provide information or opinions that are critical of your organization or may be viewed unfavorably by administrators, your supervisors, or fellow employees, with the attendant risk that this information or opinions may be seen by others. Research staff will implement procedures to reduce these risks that protect the confidentiality of the information you provide, as described below.
BENEFITS There are no direct benefits to you as a participant other than to help the field learn more about the usefulness of various supervision strategies and interventions as a tool to improve offender behavior.
CONFIDENTIALITY The data in this study will be confidential. The researchers will abide by the federal statute for confidentiality and privacy (28 CFR Part 22). To help protect your confidentiality only limited identifying information will be included on the survey instruments and other collected data. Once the survey is submitted, we will replace your name with a unique number code. Your responses will only be linkable to your identity through the use of an identification key which only approved researchers from GMU and MDRC will be able to access. You will remain anonymous in any reports on the study and your responses will be kept confidential by the researchers. No administrators in your organization, including your supervisor, will be told about your participation in the survey. They will also not be told if you choose to not answer some survey questions or to terminate your participation in the survey. All information collected will be stored in locked file cabinets or in secured computerized files that are accessible only to designated GMU and MDRC staff. At the end of the study, a de-identified dataset will be submitted to National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) for archiving.
PARTICIPATION Your participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time and for any reason. If you decide not to participate or if you withdraw from the study, there is no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. There are no costs to you or any other party. There is no compensation for participating.
ALTERNATIVES TO PARTICIPATION You have several choices. You can answer any questions that you desire during the survey. Or you can decide not to participate in the study. Your decision whether or not to participate in the study will not affect your status with your organization.
CONTACT This research is being conducted Faye Taxman at George Mason University and Dan Bloom at MDRC. Dr. Taxman may be reached at 703-993-8555 and Mr. Bloom may be reached at 212-340-8611 for questions or to report a research-related problem. You may contact the George Mason University Office of Research Integrity & Assurance at 703-993-4121 or MDRC at 212-340-7584 if you have questions or comments regarding your rights as a participant in the research.
This research project has been reviewed by the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs; an Ethics Committee) at MDRC, New York, the National Institute of Justice, Washington, and George Mason University, Fairfax.
CONSENT
I have read this form and agree to participate in this study. |
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Please answer each question by marking the appropriate box and/or by filling in the requested information in the space provided. Remember that all your answers are completely confidential and will not be shared with the agency.
1. Below is a list of common activities between organizations. Please check all activities that apply to your organization’s working relationship with the judiciary, and other community-based agencies on issues specific to assessment, treatment planning, service referrals, and placement. (Check all that apply)
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2. How often do you typically have contact with someone in each of the following agencies? Contact here refers to all means of communication, including written correspondence and memoranda, emails, telephone calls, and face-to-face meetings with people in this organization. If you have weekly or more communication with any agency not listed here, please specify in the last row. (Check one for each row)
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3. Please rate the quality of your organization’s relationship with the following agencies (Check one for each row)
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4. Please indicate the extent to which you feel comfortable in doing the following. (Check one for each row)
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5. Please indicate the extent to which you feel comfortable doing the following with your clients who are currently involved in the criminal justice system. (Check one for each row)
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6. Please indicate the degree to which you agree or disagree with the following with your clients who are currently involved in the criminal justice system. (Check one for each row)
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7. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about your organization. (Check one for each row)
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8. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the condition and functioning of your organization. (Check one for each row)
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9. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the conditions and functioning of your organization. (Check one for each row)
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10. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about efforts to make changes in your organization. (Check one for each row)
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11. Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the need for additional guidance or training in your organization. (Check one for each row)
My organization needs additional guidance or training in…
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12. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about the emphasis and priority given to the quality of case management in this agency. (Check one for each row)
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13. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about your immediate supervisor. (Check one for each row)
My immediate supervisor…
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14. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statements about coordination between different departments or units within this organization. (Check one for each row)
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| 15. What is the vision or mission statement for this organization? | | |
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16. In your opinion, to what extent are the following types of counseling and related activities emphasized in the services provided to clients in your organization (Check one for each row)
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17. How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about treatment? (Check one for each row)
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18. Is this program specifically designed to meet the needs of a particular client population? |
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18a. Which particular client population? (check all that apply) |
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19. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about your program (Check one for each row)
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20. How often does your program employ role-playing in group sessions with clients? |
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21. On average, how frequently do participants take part in the following activities? (Check one for each row)
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22. How often do clients in your program either drop out or are terminated by program staff before completing a regimen of services? |
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Skill Quiz
Please answer each question by marking the appropriate box. Remember that all your answers are completely confidential and will not be shared with the agency.
23. The Risk Principle states that recidivism is reduced when the intensity and duration of interventions are matched with the offender’s risk to reoffend.
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24. Criminogenic Need is a component of Risk.
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25. Which of the following is NOT a Criminogenic Need? |
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26. Responsivity is unrelated to the concepts of Risk and Need. |
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27. Problem-Solving Skills can be taught to clients and generalized to target different types of high risk behaviors. |
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28. All offenders Desist from crime at some point during their life span.
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29. Which of the following is NOT a factor related to Desistance? |
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30. One way to encourage Desistance is to ask questions that investigate what the offender’s current Strengths mean to them. |
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31. When attempting to introduce new stabilizers into an offender’s life, it does not matter what activities the offender prefers or the goals they have for their crime-free future. |
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32. The movement from offender to a non-offender identity is an example of _____________. |
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33. The offender’s perception of their likelihood for success will affect their motivation to change. |
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34. The Change Process includes resistance, ambivalence, motivation, and relapse. |
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35. Which of the following is NOT an example of Sustain talk? |
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36. Which of the following is part of the SAC acronym? |
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37. Which of the following is a form of discord? |
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38. Steps to enhancing the case plan should involve the offender in reviewing risk and needs assessments, identifying destabilizers, and deciding on the goals of supervision. |
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39. When developing the case plan, which of the following should NOT be incorporated? |
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40. The meeting structure involves the PO checking in with the client, reviewing areas from the previous meeting, and providing encouragement. |
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41. The goal of reinforcement is to strengthen the desired behavior and increase the likelihood that it will be repeated. |
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42. Optional strategies for avoiding offending MUST… |
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Case Scenario 1– Tim Smith Tim is a moderate-risk offender on parole for drunk driving. He has a friend by the name of David that is also on parole for DUI. While Tim does not have a long criminal history, this is his third time having contact with the criminal justice system. Tim is mandated by the court to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, which he does regularly. Tim also meets with his PO, PO Garner. Tim has recently enrolled in GED classes and expressed a desire to find a job. However, Tim has not been able to find a job that he enjoys. Tim has been in a new relationship for the past two months. Tim tells PO Garner that although he and his girlfriend get along most of the time, for the last week they have been arguing a lot. Tim expresses that because of this arguing he wants to drink to get over his anger. Tim also admits that he has been hanging out with David more since he started having relationship problems.
43. What would Tim’s Risk/Need Assessment identify as Problem Behaviors?
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44. Which of the following factors is a Destabilizer that may negatively affect Tim’s ability to follow through on supervision requirements? (check all that apply) |
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45. Which of the following factors might be considered Stabilizers in Tim’s life? (check all that apply) |
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46. How should PO Garner respond to Tim? (check all that apply) |
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47. Which of the following is a short-term step that Tim should take to promote building pro-social supports? (check all that apply) |
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Case Scenario 2– Daniel Taylor In the past, Daniel, age 34, has been reluctant to take responsibility for his behavior, including the events that led to his convictions for dangerous driving, driving on a suspended license, and manslaughter. While high on drugs and alcohol, Daniel drove at speeds above 100 mph, showing off for the passengers of the car, who were screaming for him to slow down. The car crash fatally injured his girlfriend, but paramedics’ testimony suggests that she probably would have survived if he had gotten medical attention for her right away. Daniel served time in prison for the convictions.
Daniel has been out of prison for a few years and has a job as a repairman and assistant manager at a mechanic’s shop. He regularly meets with his PO. He and his new girlfriend moved in together recently and are thinking about buying new furniture together.
In some ways, Daniel does not seem too different from before. He still enjoys partying with his friends and he is saving up money to buy a motorcycle. Lately, however, Daniel has been trying to stay away from drugs, including attending Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings on a regular basis. Daniel still drinks alcohol at parties, but he always makes sure not to drive afterwards. Daniel is also making reasonable plans for his future with his girlfriend and taking advice from his boss, his NA sponsor, and other supportive people in his life.
48. Which of the following factors might be considered Stabilizers in Daniel’s life? (check all that apply)
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49. Which of the following activities is an example of Daniel making changes to the way he thinks about himself and his responsibilities? (check all that apply) |
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50. Commitment to change is an Internal Desistance Factor for Daniel. |
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51. Continued drug use is an External Desistance Factor for Daniel. |
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52. Where is Daniel in the change process? |
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| * 53. What is your email address? | | |
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| 55. What is your job title? | | |
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56. Do you work in a special unit? |
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| 56a. If yes, please specify which special unit you work in: | | |
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57. What is the highest academic degree you hold? (Check one) |
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58. Do you hold any professional credentials, certifications, or licenses? |
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| 58a. If yes, please specify professional credentials, certifications, or licenses you hold: | | |
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59. How would you describe yourself? (Check all that apply) |
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61. What is your gender? (Check one) |
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* 62. How many years have you worked for this organization? |
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* How many months have you worked for this organization? |
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| 63. What is your typical caseload size? | | |
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64. What type of training have had you in the past two years? (check all that apply) |
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65. Have you worked in any of the following organizations or work settings? (Check all that apply) |
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66. At your facility/location, do you work with both offenders currently involved in the criminal justice system and non-offenders? |
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| 66a. About what percentage of the clients served at your facility/location are offenders currently involved in the criminal justice system? Approximately ____% | | |
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66b. Are the services that you provide to offenders covered by one or more contracts with a criminal justice agency(s)? (Check one) |
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