Barriers to Effective RNR Implementation for Youth in the Justice System

Despite robust evidence of the efficacy of the RNR framework, studies indicate that the needs of youth on community supervision as identified in risk-need assessments are frequently not reflected in the services they receive. Potential barriers to treatment were examined in 219 Canadian youth serving probation terms. Ninety percent of youth had a barrier to treatment (M = 4.83 SD = 2.81), with lifestyle destabilizers, engagement issues, parental factors, and probation officers’ case management decisions as the most common categories of barriers. Engagement issues and systems factors were the barrier categories that decreased the likelihood of receiving treatment in the greatest number of criminogenic need domains. Furthermore, barrier categories were related to the likelihood of recidivism. Results call for greater adherence to the Specific Responsivity Principle, expansion to include the assessment and management of destabilizing factors, and attention to larger issues such as the need for a responsive system.M.A