Effectiveness of Current Anger Management Programs

Pre-treatment assessment should be required before any violent offender commences an anger management program. This enables the identification of any crimogenic (definition) needs and creates a clear understanding of the goals that can be targeted throughout the the program (the rehabilitation of offenders: international perspective etc.). “Ministry of Justice in Western Australia has created a model of crimogenic needs assessment for violent offenders including personality factors (e.g. psychopathy, impulsivity), cognitions about offending (such as justification, rationalization of criminality), appraisals (how situations are perceived and interpreted), arousal and self control, interpersonal and problem solving skills, psychopathology and inhibitors and disinhibitors for criminal behaviour (e.g. peer/ family pressures, alcohol/drug use) (rehabilitation of offenders:international perspectives applied etc.). The pre-assessment stage enables the identification of crimogenic needs and principles of the offender but also would increase the effectiveness of the program. This important phase is not incorporated in the process of Western Australian anger management programs which would greatly lower its effectiveness. Howells et al. (1997) have previously argued that some violent offenders may not have high anger management problems but may be “instrumental”, the “psychopathic” and the “over-controlled” violent offenders (howells, k. watt, B. Hall, G. & Baldwin S. 1997 “Developing programs for violent offenders” Legal and Criminological Psychology, vol. 2 pp. 117-28). Offender motivation of participating in the program should also be assessed.

When an anger management program is developed there are psychological needs and principles need to be incorporated into the program. Andrews and Bonta have listed these psychological needs and principles to include risk (evidence suggests that high risk offenders benefit from anger management

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