Motivational interviewing training in criminal justice: Development of a model plan

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a communication style that involves strategic use of questions and statements to help clients find their own reasons for change. Ml is intended as an additional tool for officers to use as they provide supervision and services to offenders. Ml is not a replacement for everything officers currently use, nor is it appropriate for all situations. In many ways MI is still in its infancy as it relates to criminal justice, though many research projects underway are focused on better understanding the role and effectiveness of MI in criminal justice settings. The training plan outlined here was developed to ensure quality training of federal probation officers, in order to increase the likelihood that officers become proficient in their use of MI. The authors hope that the plan will continue to be informed by the experience of districts utilizing the plan, with modifications occurring as needed. There are also plans to develop outcome measures to determine what impact Ml has on the supervision process. Ultimately, the goal of all EBP is to increase the safety of the community by providing the most effective supervision and programs available. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)