Relapse prevention planning principles for criminal law practice

Recent research in rehabilitation indicates the relative success of cogniti ve-behavioral models geared to relapse prevention planning. Thus far, most of the successful programs involve persons who are already in prison or on probation. The basic approach to relapse prevention planning is to encourag e the offender to analyze the chain of events and behaviors that lead to la w-violating behavior and to come up with a plan both to avoid high-risk sit uations and to deal satisfactorily with such situations if they occur. The author proposes that criminal defense lawyers should become familiar with t echniques of relapse prevention planning and use such techniques to work wi th a client and to propose a probationary plan with relevant, responsive, a nd workable conditions of probation. This enhances the chance for a probati onary disposition, and the very process of attorney-client interaction may begin the rehabilitative process.