The RNR principals answer the questions of who, what, where and how. The who is the
person that we should be placing in the programs (most are high risk individuals), the what is
when we match the program to the specific needs of the criminal, the where and how is the
sensitivity to the gender, ethnicity, age, learning styles and literacy of the client.
Principal 4 is the Principle of Human Service. This principle is extremely important
because it is a way to address the specific causes of the crimes through qualified individuals that
specialize in specific treatments. (Andrews & Bonta, 1995)
Principle 5 is the Risk Principle. The two aspects of this are, first that the criminal
behavior can be predicted and the other is matching the treatment to the risk level of the criminal.
This is extremely important for high-risk offenders because if the treatment is not extremely
focused on the needs of the offender the possibility of reducing recidivism is significantly lower.
(Andrews & Bonta, 1995)
Principal 6 is the Need Principle. These are things that the offender needs in order to be
successful. If we can take other specific stresses out of their lives by providing those needs, we
can focus more on the core problems of the offender. For example, if an offender has no place to
live, no food to eat and no clothes to wear, those stresses cause him to worry about those and not
focus on the deep seeded problems that will ultimately make his life easier and more successful.
(Andrews & Bonta, 1995)
Principle 7 is the General Responsibility Principle. This principle caters to the
intelligence and capability of the offender. Treating them in a style and mode that is consistent
with them being able to understand it and evolve from it. For example, if an adult's highest
education level is middle school, we need to teach them in that way instead of teaching them at a
college level of understanding. It’s a way to connect the importance of the treatment to the
individual instead of a basic template for all. (Andrews & Bonta, 1995)
Church communities around the country have ways to treat and help criminals get back
into society and increase their possibility of success through programs like Reentry. They focus
on housing inmates after they're released and addressing each of their specific needs. There are
many different programs that help them get their GED's, help them get documents to get back
into the workplace, housing programs that help them get housing to have a more stable
environment and most importantly there are programs that give them a better knowledge of
Christ and how to talk to him. Getting closer to God is the best way to start a new way of life. It
gives us a flashlight of hope to get through the darkness that plagues us all into a more well-lit
lifestyle. "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV), n.d.)
Andrews, D., & Bonta, J. (1995). The psychology of criminal Conduct. Political Psychology,
16(3), 657. https://doi.org/10.2307/3792235
