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ABSTRACT
Using a sample of nearly 2,100 people incarcerated in Minnesota’s prison system, this study examined the concurrent and predictive validity of a needs and responsivity assessment system. For concurrent validity, we evaluated the relationship between the 13 needs and responsivity domains with assessed recidivism risk levels. For predictive validity, we analyzed the association between the domains and recidivism for a sub-sample that had been released from prison prior to 2023. The hypothesized needs domains – anti-social thinking, anti-social peers, education, employment, substance use disorder, housing/homelessness, and family/domestic – were significantly associated with assessed and observed recidivism, while most of the hypothesized responsivity domains – mental health, religiosity, motivation and learning style – were not. The results suggest self-identity is a distinct criminogenic need. Gender and racial/ethnic differences for concurrent and predictive validity were relatively minimal across the 13 domains.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1. The MnSTARR 2.0 includes items pertaining to criminal history (severity and type of offense), demographic characteristics (age at release and marital status), index offense type, prison admission type, prison misconduct, gang affiliation, and successful participation in effective MnDOC interventions such as substance use disorder treatment, earning education degrees and prison visitation.
2. MnSTARR 2.0 assessments are automatically generated on 1) the day a person enters prison, 2) every 365 days a person is in prison, 3) 130 days prior to release for release planning purposes and 4) the day of release. MnDOC staff can also run assessments on their own at any time for individuals who are incarcerated.