Behaviour Management Is Not About Punishment

Because effective behaviour management isn't punitive. It's intentional, informed, and responsive to the human behind the behaviour.

I’ve been seeing a growing number of questions about managing behaviours and using contingency management when working with justice-involved individuals.

This is an important conversation—and one that requires a deeper dive.

While the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) principles provide a strong foundation, effective practice goes beyond applying a framework. It requires responding to the individual and what is happening for them in real time—particularly through the responsivity principle, treatment planning, and appropriate therapeutic interventions.

For example, if someone is repeatedly missing appointments, the first step should always be conversation and curiosity.

What barriers might be present?

What is contributing to the behaviour?

Sometimes what we take for granted, such as being able to follow a schedule or know how to use a calendar, is a foreign concept for others, and a skill that needs to be learned. Also known as habilitation.

If missed appointments continue despite support and engagement, sanctions may be appropriate, but they must be:

• Directly linked to the behaviour being addressed

• Proportionate and meaningful

• Applied with the goal of behaviour change, not punishment

Equally important is recognizing when behaviours may signal the need for additional assessment. This could include psychiatric, psychoeducational, or other clinical assessments, depending on what the team determines is most appropriate. In some cases, multiple assessments may be necessary.

These findings and recommendations should then inform the treatment plan, ensuring interventions are aligned with the individual’s responsivity needs.

Ultimately, we must be cautious not to sanction behaviours that are not within the individual’s control—or that reflect unmet needs requiring additional support rather than correction.

Effective behaviour management is not about being punitive.

It’s about being intentional, informed, and responsive to the human beings behind the behaviours.