Intervention Principles and Practice Guidelines for - Underage ...

Case Planning
Once the disposition or sentence and conditions have been established for a case, an individualized
case plan should be developed. According to Carey et al. (2000, p. 30), “[Case] Plans are written,
structured tools that direct the offender and the probation/parole agent toward targeted activities
and outcomes.” The case plan should indicate the level of supervision required, specific needs to be
addressed, and the interventions that will be implemented to produce desired outcomes (Carey et al.,
2000). The utility of case plans, however, is not limited to probation and parole professionals. They
also can be very beneficial tools for diversion staff.
Some jurisdictions do not require extensive assessments and investigations prior to case
dispositions or sentencing, so more assessment and investigative work is required at the beginning
of the supervision process. Even if a thorough assessment and investigation have been completed,
assessment should be an ongoing process throughout case plan development and supervision.
The case plan is similar to a contract between the community corrections professional and the
offender, providing a blueprint for how the case should be handled. In practice, case plans vary from a
very brief and simple outline of requirements for completing the specified method of supervision (e.g.,
diversion, probation) to plans that identify risk and protective factors, strengths and assets, priority
targets, goals, objectives, action steps, etc. It is suggested that at a minimum, a case plan should
include (NCJJ, 2002, p. 74):
• Clear goals and meaningful objectives for the offender to achieve while on supervision.
• Activities the community corrections professional and offender should be involved in to
accomplish those goals and objectives.
• A timeframe for completing each objective.
In the case of underage drinking offenders, case plans should specifically address issues of
substance use and abuse including such goals as abstaining from alcohol use, staying away from
situations in which alcohol is readily available, and repairing the harm caused by previous drinking.
An array of activities might be planned to meet these goals such as alcohol treatment, substance use
testing, curfews and limitations on activities, and community service or restitution.
The case plan is the first opportunity to put into operation the evidence-based practice of
responsivity requiring that individual characteristics of youth such as problems and needs, culture,
gender, motivational stage, developmental stage, and learning styles be matched to the services
provided.
Focus on Resiliency
It is also vital that the case plan include measures to enhance resiliency among youth. Resilience
can be defined as “the capacity to spring back, rebound, successfully adapt in the face of adversity, and
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