The 13 Needs Areas Assessed at FCI Oxford: What SPARC‑13 Means for Your Loved One's Programs

SPARC‑13 is the Bureau of Prisons' standardized needs assessment. Staff use it to pinpoint which areas a person should work on before release - things like education, job skills, or substance abuse treatment that can make the transition home smoother. At FCI Oxford, this assessment helps the Bureau match your loved one with programming that fits their specific situation.

For families, here's what matters: SPARC‑13 shapes which programs your loved one gets encouraged to join, especially Evidence‑Based Recidivism Reduction (EBRR) programs. This isn't just paperwork. People who opt in can earn extra monthly phone minutes, and enrolling, participating, or completing programs can factor into transfer decisions for facilities closer to home. Complete 100 hours or more of EBRR programming? That can unlock a financial achievement award or preferred housing. These assessments have real day-to-day impact.

SPARC‑13 looks at 13 specific “needs” areas - domains the Bureau uses to spot barriers and match people at FCI Oxford (and other BOP institutions) to programs that fit.

• ✓ Anger/Hostility - trouble managing anger, frustration, or conflict.
• ✓ Antisocial Peers - a social circle that pulls someone toward rule-breaking.
• ✓ Cognitions - thinking patterns that can lead to poor decisions or risky behavior.
• ✓ Dyslexia - reading-related learning challenges that can affect classes and job training.
• ✓ Education - basic education needs, like completing coursework or building skills.
• ✓ Family/Parenting - support around relationships, parenting, and family stability.
• ✓ Finance/Poverty - money management and financial stability challenges.
• ✓ Medical - physical health issues that may need ongoing care or education.
• ✓ Mental Health - emotional or psychiatric needs that affect daily functioning.
• ✓ Recreation/Leisure/Fitness - healthy ways to use time, manage stress, and build routines.
• ✓ Substance Use - alcohol/drug use issues and recovery support needs.
• ✓ Trauma - past traumatic experiences that may affect behavior and coping.
• ✓ Work - job readiness, work habits, and employability skills.

Alongside needs, the Bureau also uses a separate tool called PATTERN. At facilities like FCI Oxford, PATTERN is used to assess a person’s risk of recidivism as high, medium, low, or minimum.

The key distinction: PATTERN measures risk level, while SPARC‑13 identifies needs areas. Risk is the overall rating; needs are the specific targets programs address. Staff use both together - PATTERN to understand someone's risk category, SPARC‑13 to figure out which programming makes the most sense.

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• ✓ Ask your loved one what needs areas came up for them under SPARC‑13 and what programs they’ve been referred to.
• ✓ Encourage them to opt in and stick with recommended Evidence‑Based Recidivism Reduction (EBRR) programs, since participation is tied to incentives.
• ✓ If they’re enrolled, support follow-through - consistent attendance and completion can help them qualify for consideration for a nearer release transfer.

One thing to keep in mind: SPARC‑13 tells you what areas the Bureau wants to address, but available programs vary by institution. To find out what's actually running at FCI Oxford right now, confirm through facility channels and your loved one's unit team.

Want more detail about First Step Act assessments like SPARC‑13 and PATTERN? You can email the BOP Reentry Services Division at FSA@BOP.GOV.

For questions specific to FCI Oxford - like which programs are running and who oversees them - use the facility's normal communication channels and have your loved one check with unit management. The Bureau also publishes facility-level population statistics on its public website if you want general background.