Which statement best distinguishes criminogenic needs from noncriminogenic needs?

• A. Criminogenic needs relate to crime and can be changed; noncriminogenic not directly related to crime.
• B. Criminogenic needs are unchangeable; noncriminogenic are easily changed.
• C. Noncriminogenic needs relate to crime
• D. Both are not relevant to recidivism

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that criminogenic needs are factors directly tied to criminal behavior and, importantly, are changeable through intervention. In practice, addressing these needs—such as attitudes that support crime, antisocial associations, or substance abuse—tends to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. Noncriminogenic needs may affect a person’s life but aren’t directly linked to causing crime, and targeting them doesn’t reliably lower recidivism. So the best statement is that criminogenic needs relate to crime and can be changed, while noncriminogenic needs are not directly related to crime. The other options misstate these relationships: one claims criminogenic needs are unchangeable, another says noncriminogenic relate to crime, and another says neither is relevant to recidivism.