The Pattern Risk assessment and needs Assessment Needs changing:
The criminal history category prevents people like myself to drop to a low because of things i have done in the past that i have already paid for and things that are over 15 years old.
Having your GED/diploma currently is a minus 2 from your pattern score AND with the OLD one it used to be a minus 4. That is honestly discouraging to a lot of people who do not have an education.
Not having a drug need or satisfying your drug need used to be a minus 9 but currently is a minus 6.
I am a prime example of why these should not have been changed..
for example:
I am completely maxed out on program points and all avenues to lose any more points off my recidivism.
Low recidivism is currently a score of 39.
I currently have a score of 40 which is a medium and i have no other way to lose ONE point to cash in my first step act credits.
I have petitioned the warden and things have been approved but it has been MONTHS and i have not received my time credits.
The pattern tool is only made for people with minimum or no criminal history..
I have earned a bachelors degree and paralegal certification and none of that has been taken into consideration of my pattern score.
I am stuck at a score of 40 and need a 39 to earn my benefits.. had they not changed the amount you lose for your education and from completing a drug need i would be at a 35 which is well enough to be a low recidivism.
Those two minor changes has caused a lot of people not to benefit because like myself, i have maxed out every avenue to earn any more points off my recidivism.
There should be now cap on the amount of points you earn off your recidivism.
I continue to program for my own benefit for stronger values and in hopes that these flaws in the pattern risk assessments get fixed soon.
Thank you for your time
Respectfully,
Ryan Dibley
READ NEWSLETTER ARTICLE HERE: https://prisonprofessors.com/pattern-first-step-act/
