By: Chris Kamin, equivant Supervision
At equivant Supervision and Pretrial, we get this question from agencies and practitioners time and time again. In addition to creating this document detailing the differences and similarities, we created a three-part blog series to answer the most commonly-asked questions regarding these two instruments:
- Why was COMPAS-R Core created and how does it differ from the standard COMPAS Core?
- How do the scales in the COMPAS-R Core differ from those in the standard COMPAS Core?
- What new configurations are available in the COMPAS-R Core?
The questions and answers presented in this series primarily cover differences between the two instruments offered as part of the Northpointe Suite– an integrated web-based assessment and case management system for criminal justice practitioners. Both the standard COMPAS Core and COMPAS-R Core are designed to assess risk and needs of persons recently removed from the community or currently in the community.
It is important to note that the COMPAS-R Core is based on the standard COMPAS Core, which was developed empirically with a focus on predictors known to affect recidivism. Like the standard COMPAS Core, it includes dynamic risk factors and assesses persons on a variety of well-validated risk and need factors designed to aid in correctional intervention to decrease the likelihood of reoffending.
The COMPAS-R Core consists of one risk scale, the Summative General Recidivism Risk Scale (Summative GRRS), and fifteen descriptive scales that measure criminal history, dynamic criminogenic needs, and stabilization factors. It is fully configurable, allowing agencies to create assessments that are composed of scales relevant to their particular requirements.
What were the development objectives of the COMPAS-R Core and how do these differentiate it from the standard COMPAS Core?
The main objectives were to create an assessment that was shorter and more transparent than the standard COMPAS Core, while still delivering accurate, evidence-based results. Additional objectives included updating the software for enhanced ease of use, and updating the assessment language so that it reflected greater inclusion, was easier to understand, and conveyed neutrality.
How much shorter is the COMPAS-R Core and how were decisions about changes made?
The basic configuration of the COMPAS-R Core consists of 83 questions and a 14 item current charges table. This is a 30% reduction in the number of items contained in the standard COMPAS Core, which contains 125 questions and a 14 item current charges table.
Decisions about scale changes were made through the use of a data set consisting of standard COMPAS Core assessments from five geographically diverse agencies. Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory analyses were applied to the scales, allowing the identification of items that could be removed with little impact to the scales. Separate items were also grouped into single items to examine their viability within their scales; if they performed well, they replaced the separate items, thus reducing length but retaining the original information.
How is the COMPAS-R Core more transparent than the standard COMPAS Core?
Like the standard COMPAS Core, the COMPAS-R Core is proprietary. However, COMPAS-R Core contains report options that can demonstrate exactly how a person’s score was obtained. In particular, the “Long Report” contains the person’s responses on each item of each scale, the points associated with that response, as well as all the other possible responses and their corresponding points. Additionally, in the Long Report, the associated norm used for that person is printed along with each scale so that one can see that the score obtained falls into the stated level of risk or need within the norm set.
As with the standard COMPAS Core, the need scale scores are point-additive. A new feature of the COMPAS-R Core is that the risk score can also be summed without reference to the base model. Thus, a blank version of the Long Report could be used to obtain all risk and need levels for an individual using just a pencil and basic addition.
What changes were made to update the language?
Language updates were made in several areas of the assessment and reporting.
First, the language throughout the assessment is gender-neutral. No reference is made to a person’s gender, either with pronouns such as she/he or with titles such as Ms./Mr.
Second, labeling of scales has been modified to reflect greater neutrality and alignment with the Central Eight. For example, the scale named “Socialization Failure” in the standard COMPAS Core is now named “Socialization History.”
Finally, the language has been modified to be simpler and more current/relevant. For example, the word “acquaintance” has been removed to reflect the fact that this type of relationship is extremely common and likely meaningless, and, therefore, is not informative.
The COMPAS-R and COMPAS Core share the same purpose. The COMPAS-R Core is an evolution of the standard COMPAS Core. To explore more about these instruments, please download the comprehensive and ever-evolving document here.
Click on the links below to explore more information.
