U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections (2007) A Guide for Probation and Parole : MOTIVATING O F F E N D E R S  T O  C H A N G E

One promising evidence-based practice for motivating offenders and fostering positive behavioral changes is motivational interviewing (MI). MI, which was irst developed in the addiction treatment ield, is now being applied widely and with positive results in corrections, particularly in probation and parole. The principle behind MI is that by listening to offenders and following up on the positive aspects  of their speech and thinking, corrections professionals can help increase offenders’ motivation to make positive changes in their lives that will reduce their likelihood of reoffending.
This publication, Motivating Offenders To Change: A Guide for Probation and Parole, provides probation and parole oficers and other correctional professionals with both a solid grounding in the principles behind MI and a practical guide for ap­plying these principles in their everyday dealings with offenders. Through numerous examples of questions, sample dialogues, and exercises, it presents techniques for interacting with offenders at all stages of supervision and at varying levels of com­mitment to positive change. In addition, it recognizes that deception, resistance to change, and relapse into criminal behaviors are realities for many offenders, and sets forth strategies for dealing with those issues that avoid unproductive confrontation with the offender.

motivating  offenders to change