The following passage on criminogenic needs is excerpted from “Tools of the Trade: A Guide to Incorporating Science into Practice,” p. 26; Faye S. Taxman, Ph.D., Eric S. Shepardson, James M. Byrne, Ph.D.
Criminogenic Needs are factors in a [justice-involved individual’s] life that are directly related to recidivism. Research has identified six factors that are directly related to crime: low self-control, anti-social personality, anti-social values, criminal peers, substance abuse and dysfunctional family.
Low Self-Control
The inability to control one’s own behavior has been directly linked to crime. A justice-involved individual is more likely to commit illegal acts when the individual does not have impulse control. For example, a person who has low self-control is more likely to use narcotics than a person who has a higher level of self-control. Self-control helps dictate the way a person behaves.
Anti-Social Personality
Certain personality traits, i.e. callousness, are another factor that have been directly linked to criminality. Justice-involved individuals who display anti-social personality traits often will not care how their actions affect others and therefore may not feel any remorse for what they have done. The criminal personality helps justify actions by making it easier to commit illegal acts.
Anti-Social Values
Anti-social values allow justice-involved individuals to disassociate themselves not only from the community but from the values and norms of the community. These types of attitudes help individuals retreat from their surroundings where they are alone with their thoughts and ideas while having minimal interaction within others within the community who are not engaged in criminal conduct.
Criminal Peers
Associating with other criminals increases the likelihood that a justice-involved individual will recidivate. If an individual is immersed in a group of peers who continue to commit unlawful acts, it will be more likely that this individual will commit more crimes. Justice-involved individuals are susceptible to peer pressure just like anyone else, and if their peers are committing crimes, they may feel it is necessary to break the law in order to fit in.
Substance Abuse
Research has shown that there is a relationship between substance abuse and criminal behavior. Continued substance abuse is an illegal act itself for individuals on community supervision. There are other issues related to substance abuse, i.e. the need for money that can lead individuals to commit a crime to get money for drugs.
Dysfunctional Family
If a justice-involved individual comes from a dysfunctional family, the individual is more likely to be in a setting where they can learn criminal or substance use behaviors. In these situations, individuals may not have ever had a positive role model within the home to help teach morals and values. These individuals are at a disadvantage because from an early age, they are taught that certain values and norms are acceptable.