The Alternatives to Violence Project [AVP] has been very effective at changing attitudes and behaviors, reducing anger, increasing empathy and reducing recidivism. Focusing on this last outcome, reducing recidivism, it is generally accepted that there are nine criminogenic risk factors that are predictors of recidivism. These factors in order of importance are: attitude, peers, personality, employment, family, substance abuse, housing and finance, personal distress and socio-economic status. The first three, and most important [attitude, peers, personality], must be addressed or success is unlikely, no matter what other criminogenic factors are addressed. AVP utilizes the Immersive-Experiential© training design, which directly addresses improvements in attitude and personality and indirectly peers, family and employment. It does this efficiently and effectively.
