The RPI was approved for use by pretrial services in October 2001 and includes factors such as age, number of prior arrests, employment status, education, drug or alcohol history, whether or not the defendant was residing with a spouse or children, and if the defendant had previously absconded from supervision. However, over the last few years, defendants charged with sex offenses have scored relatively low on the RPI. A new RPI tool developed as a result of an Office of Federal Detention Trustee study also scores defendants charged with sex offenses very low. It is recommended that agencies use the new RPI as a guide for recommending conditions to the court and instituting supervision strategies. As with all cases, an individualized approach to each defendant can meet the unique challenges of defendants charged with a sex offense. Agencies may also want to implement a secondary risk assessment tool to assist in the evaluation process, since defendants charged with sex offenses have important criminogenic needs not shared by other defendants. References