The Core 4: Redefining Social Support in Community Supervision

The Criminologist

In this episode of The Criminologist Podcast, host Joseph Arvidson is joined by Shawn Trusten and Phil Galli, co-creators of the Core 4 Survey and Intervention, an innovative framework that breaks down social support into four key domains: Instrumental, Expressive, Perceived, and Received.

Built on years of case management experience and field testing, the Core 4 model helps practitioners move beyond the binary “pro-social/anti-social” lens and instead gain a nuanced, actionable understanding of the social networks that influence client behavior. This episode explores how the Core 4 tool bridges assessment and intervention—serving as a roadmap for client-centered case planning and long-term behavioral change.

🎯 Want to go deeper? Don’t miss their upcoming FREE webinar! Join Shawn and Phil for a live session hosted by the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA):

📅 Thursday, June 12, 2025 🕑 2:00–3:30 PM Eastern | 1:00–2:30 PM Central 💻 Register here: https://www.appa-net.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcode=Training-Online

They’ll walk you through the full Core 4 approach, demonstrate real-world applications, and discuss policy implications for community supervision, reentry, and beyond.

📖 Learn more about the Core 4 model in their publication: “An Exploratory Study of Self-Reported Levels of Social Support in Two Justice-Involved Groups” – Federal Probation Journal https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/85_2_7_0.pdf

Whether you’re a probation officer, supervisor, policy maker, or simply passionate about desistance and reform—this episode will leave you thinking differently about how we support change.

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