(BOP) - There are new resources supporting BOP's implementation of the First Step Act (FSA) available on BOP's website, www.bop.gov. The first item is an update to the initial "Key Components of the Federal Bureau of Prison's Current Needs Assessment System" publication. A new report, "Needs Assessment in the Federal Bureau of Prisons," describes the steps BOP has taken to build upon and enhance the current needs assessment processes.
The second document, "Violent Offense Codes for PATTERN Risk Assessment," is a list of the violent offense codes applicable for FSA PATTERN risk assessments. The PATTERN risk assessment includes a static factor for "instant violent offense". The assessment also results in two recidivism risk scores: one for general recidivism risk and one specifically for violent recidivism risk. The definitions of general and violent recidivism mirror those used by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). General recidivism is defined as a return to BOP custody or a re-arrest within three years of release from BOP custody, excluding all traffic offenses except driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI). Violent recidivism is defined as a re-arrest for a suspected act of violence within three years of release from BOP custody. Examples of the violent offenses captured in this definition include, but are not limited to, firearms violations, homicide, child abuse, robbery, sex trafficking, and sexual assault.
Both documents can be found on the First Step Act section of our website here: Risk and Needs Assessment System Resources.