Validation of the Corrections Integrated Needs Assessment System (CINAS)

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) partnered with Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice to conduct an evaluation study of FDC’s Corrections Integrated Needs Assessment System (CINAS), an automated risk assessment system that seeks to improve classification for correctional programs. FDC uses the CINAS system to identify offenders’ risk of reimprisonment based on their criminogenic risk factors and subsequently, prioritize appropriate programs that can reduce the likelihood of future offending.

The CINAS evaluation focused on three components: (1) the wording and design of instrument questions, (2) the predictive accuracy of the recidivism risk index, and (3) the rate of program participation by recidivism risk. Based on the evaluation findings, the researchers provided recommendations for improvements to instrument questions, the recidivism risk model, and the assessment system.

Contacts

Principal Investigator: William D. Bales, Ph.D.

Project Manager: William D. Bales

Graduate Student: Jennifer M. Brown

Collaborative Partners: Florida Department of Corrections

Dates: 2016 – 2018