TITLE:
Classification: The Analyses of the Psychometric Performances’ Effects on the Special Needs Offenders Program
AUTHORS:
Park E. Atatah, Catherine W. Kisavi-Atatah, Angela Branch-Vital
KEYWORDS:
Psychometric, Performances Effects, Offenders, Special Needs Offenders, Responsivity, Criminal Justice Over, Under, or No Performances
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.4 No.5,
May
26,
2016
ABSTRACT: The present study aims to examine the roles classification of special needs offenders (SNOs) played in their group’s marginal propensity to successfully or unsuccessfully complete parole supervision due to the individual and collective performances in-between and in-within the classified group known as special needs offenders program (SNOP) caseload. In this study, compliance or noncompliance of SNOs policies or special conditions’ violations was seen as the determinate supervision that affects SNOs psychometric performances. SNOs were made up of mental impairment (MI), mental retardation (MR), terminally ill (TI), physical handicapped (PH), or medically recommended intensive supervision (MRIS) offenders. The Administrative Parole Hearings in three major counties in Region 3 Texas between 2008 and 2009 were analyzed. The study found that in all areas dealing with violations and hearing process, MI responded excessively in-between and in-within 92% to 100% in all measurement categories. Additionally, the study found that of the 1877 special needs offenders program (SNOP) hearings conducted in Region 3 between 2008 and 2009, MI accounted for 90% or 699 out of 774 of offenders not revoked. Within the same period, MI offenders accounted for approximately 93% or 269 out of 291 of paroles that were revoked. Also, MI offenders accounted for 93% or 641 out of 689 transfers to ISF facilities, 100% transfer to SAFPF, and for a 100% of all reopened revocation SNOs hearings in Region 3. Practically, MI showed overwhelming psychometric performances effects on the SNOP caseload. The implication of this study was to assist criminal justice officials, public health officials, public policy decision makers, and even for profit organizations to rethink, refocus, and revisit their SNOs management modalities, policies, and their methodologies, which could eventually bring some positive social changes to the SNOs statewide and possibly beyond.