Assessing Fairly: Intro to the National Guidelines for Post-Conviction Risk and Needs Assessments

The United States has not followed a coherent set of guidelines on the development and use of risk and needs assessment, and most states and counties have not tested their instruments for accuracy and fairness across race, ethnicity, and gender. In partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center worked with a group of 26 national experts, including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, to develop a set of 13 practical guidelines and a suite of practical resources that advise criminal justice agencies on the use of post-conviction risk and needs assessments. The guidelines prioritize accuracy, fairness, transparency, and effective communication and use of post-conviction risk and needs assessments. This presentation aims to discuss the benefits of technical assistance in adopting the 13 national guidelines while supporting their overarching mission of improving evidence-based practices.