1. ASSESSMENTS OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES
DR. ROBERT D. HOGE
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
CARLETON UNIVERSITY
OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1S 5B6

2. SERVICE GOALS OF JUDICIAL & CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS
COMMUNITY PROTECTION
HOLDING YOUTH ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACTIONS
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE VICTIM
COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT

3. THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH BACKGROUND

4. EVIDENCE FROM RESEARCH
SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES ARE BEING MADE IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF YOUTH CRIME
THERE IS AN EMERGING CONSENSUS ON THE CORRELATES AND CAUSES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN YOUNG PEOPLE
THERE IS AN EMERGING CONSENSUS ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS

5. CONCLUSIONS FROM THE RESEARCH LITERATURE
EARLY INTERVENTIONS WITH HIGH RISK CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WORK
PUNITIVE SANCTIONS DO NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON REOFFENDING

6. CONCLUSIONS FROM THE RESEARCH LITERATURE [CONTINUED]
APPROPRIATE TREATMENT SERVICES, DELIVERED WITH INTEGRITY, CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
APPROPRIATE TREATMENT SERVICES, DELIVERED WITH INTEGRITY CAN BE COST EFFECTIVE AND SHOW POSITIVE COST/BENEFIT RATIOS

7. KEY CONCEPTS FROM THE RISK/NEED MODEL
CRIMINOGENIC RISK
CRIMINOGENIC NEED
RESPONSIVITY

8. CRIMINOGENIC RISK FACTORS
FACTORS WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL OR HIS/HER ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATED WITH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

9. MAJOR RISK FACTORS HISTORY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR/CONDUCT DISORDER
ATTITUDES, VALUES, & BELIEFS SUPPORTIVE OF CRIME
DYSFUNCTIONAL PARENTING
ANTISOCIAL PEER ASSOCIATIONS
DYSFUNCTIONAL PERSONALITY/ BEHAVIOUR TRAITS
POOR EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL SKILLS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
POOR USE OF LEISURE TIME

10. OTHER RISK FACTORS
PROBLEMS IN THE FAMILY OF ORIGIN: CRIMINALITY, MENTAL DISORDER, ABUSE
INADEQUATE ACCOMMODATIONS
ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE
DYSFUNCTIONAL NEIGHGBOURHOOD ENVIRONMENT

11. RISK PRINCIPLE OF CASE CLASSIFICATION
INTENSIVE SERVICES SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR HIGH RISK CLIENTS WHILE MODERATE OR LOW RISK CLIENTS SHOULD RECEIVE LESS INTENSIVE SERVICES (OR NO SERVICES AT ALL)

12. CRIMINOGENIC NEED FACTORS
RISK FACTORS THAT CAN BE CHANGED AND, IF CHANGED, REDUCE THE CHANCES OF FUTURE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

13. MAJOR NEED FACTORS
ATTITUDES, VALUES & BELIEFS SUPPORTIVE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
DYSFUNCTIONAL PARENTING
ANTISOCIAL PEER ASSOCIATIONS
DYSFUNCTIONAL PERSONALITY & BEHAVIOUR TRAITS
POOR EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL SKILLS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
POOR USE OF LEISURE TIME

14. NEED PRINCIPLE OF CASE CLASSIFICATION
SERVICES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE CLIENT

15. RESPONSIVITY FACTORS
FACTORS WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL OR HIS OR HER ENVIRONMENT THAT AFFECT THEIR RESPONSE TO INTERVENTIONS, WHETHER THIS INVOLVES THERAPY, COUNSELING, OR A PUNITIVE SANCTION. WE ALSO INCLUDE HERE PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT MAY MODERATE THE EFFECTS OF RISK.

16. EXAMPLES OF RESPONSIVITY FACTORS
INTELLIGENCE
LEARNING STYLE
TREATMENT READINESS & MOTIVATION
EMOTIONAL DISORDER
ANGER/HOSTILITY

17. EXAMPLES OF PROTECTIVE FACTORS
INTELLIGENCE
EMOTIONAL MATURITY
POSITIVE, PROSOCIAL SKILLS
EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL COMPETENCE
INTEREST IN HOBBYS/SPORTS
PROSCIAL FAMILY/FRIENDS
HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL,MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

18. RESPONSIVITY PRINCIPLE OF CASE CLASSIFICATION
CONTENT AND MODES OF SERVICE SHOULD MATCH RESPONSIVITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLIENT

19. RESEARCH & CLINICALLY-BASED PRINCIPLES OF BEST PRACTICE
BASED ON STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS OF RISK, NEED, AND RESPONSIVITY
LEVEL OF SERVICE DETERMINED BY RISK LEVEL OF THE CLIENT (RISK PRINCIPLE)
TREATMENTS TARGET SPECIFIC NEEDS AND TAKE ACCOUNT OF RESPONSIVITY FACTORS (NEED & RESPONSIVITY PRINCIPLES)

20. TREATMENTS ARE DELIVERED IN THE COMMUNITY SETTING WHERE FEASIBLE
WHERE INSTITUTIONALIZION IS NECESSARY, NEEDED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED

21. TREATMENTS ARE STRUCTURED AND FOCUS ON CONCRETE BEHAVIOURAL GOALS
TREATMENTS ARE MULTIMODAL - ADDRESS ALL AREAS OF NEED

22. INDIVIDUALS DELIVERING TREATMENT ARE SELECTED WITH CARE AND PROVIDED MEANINGFUL SUPPORT
STAFF TAKE CARE TO INSURE THAT THEY REPRESENT PROSOCIAL MODELS

23. AFTERCARE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT
PROGRAM DELIVERY & IMPACT IS CAREFULLY MONITORED

24. Adherence to Principles by Setting
Decrease
Community
Residence
Recidivism
Increase

25. Targeting Criminogenic Need: Results from Meta-Analyses from Youthful Offenders
0.3
Reduction in Recidivism
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
Increase in Recidivism
Less than half criminogenic
Fifty % or more criminogenic
-0.05
Source: Dowden and Andrews (1999). What Works in Youthful Offender Treatment. Forum on Correctional Research.

26. INTRODUCTION TO ASSESSMENTS IN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS

27. ASSESSMENT WITHIN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS
CONTEXTS OF ASSESSMENT
DIVERSION DECISIONS
DETENTION DECISIONS
WAIVERS TO ADULT COURT/MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
ADJUDICATIVE COMPETENCE
SENTENCING/DISPOSITIONS
PROGRAMMING DECISIONS

28. CLINICAL VS STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS
CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS RELY ON THE INFORMAL AND UNSTRUCTURED COLLECTION OF INFORMATION.
STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS REPRESENT STRUCTURED FORMATS FOR COLLECTING AND INTEGRATING INFORMATION.

29. BROAD-BASED MEASURES ASSESSING RISK AND NEED FACTORS
THESE ARE STANDARDIZED MEASURES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE YOUTH’S RISK AND NEED FACTORS. MAY BE IN AN ACTUARIAL OR STRUCTURED PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT FORMAT

30. EXAMPLES OF BROAD-BASED MEASURES
EARLY ASSESSMENT OF RISK LIST FOR BOYS/GIRLS
ESTIMATE OF RISK OF ADOLESCENT SEXUAL OFFENCE RECIDIVISM
STRUCTURED ASSESSMENT OF VIOLENCE RISK IN YOUTH
WASHINGTON STATE JUVENILE COURT ASSESSMENT
YOUTH LEVEL OF SERVICE/CASE MANAGEMENT INVENTORY

31. YOUTH LEVEL OF SERVICE/CASE MANAGEMENT INVENTORY
PURPOSE
THE INSTRUMENT IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE PROFESSIONAL WORKER IN THE COLLECTION AND SYNTHESIS OF RISK, NEED, AND RESPONSIVITY INFORMATION AND THE LINKING OF THAT INFORMATION WITH CASE PLANNING. IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENTS OR TO DICTATE DECISIONS.

32. THE YOUTH LEVEL OF SERVICE/CASE MANAGEMENT INVENTORY
GOALS
PROVIDE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF THE FULL RANGE OF RISK, NEED, AND RESPONSIVITY FACTORS KNOWN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH YOUTH CRIME
PROVIDE A LINK BETWEEN THESE FACTORS AND CASE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

33. YIELD NORMATIVE DATA SO THAT INDIVIDUAL CASES CAN BE EVALUATED WITH REFERENCE TO OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE SAME AGE LEVEL
DEMONSTRATE ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY

34. INCORPORATE A PROFESSIONAL OVERRIDE AND GENERALLY VALUE PROFESSIONAL DISCRETION
BE ACCEPTED AS A USEFUL TOOL BY THE PROFESSIONAL WORKER

35. COMPONENTS OF THE YLS/CMI
PART I ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND NEEDS
PART II SUMMARY OF RISK/NEEDS
PART III ASSESSMENT OF OTHER NEEDS/ SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
PART IV CASE MANAGER ASSESSMENT
PART V CONTACT LEVEL
PART VI CASE MANAGEMENT PLAN

36. PART I ASSESSMENT OF RISKS & NEEDS
PRIOR & CURRENT OFFENCES/DISPOSITIONS
FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES/PARENTING
EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT
PEER RELATIONS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
LEISURE/RECREATION
PERSONALITY/BEHAVIOUR
ATTITUDES/ORIENTATION

37. SOME CONDITIONS TO OBSERVE IN SELECTING AND USING RISK/NEEDS ASSESSMENT MEASURES
SELECT EVIDENCE-BASED MEASURES (SUPPORTED BY RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY RESEARCH)
INSURE MEASURE IS RELEVANT TO THE CLIENT
INSURE MEASURE IS RELEVANT TO THE LEGAL ISSUE
PROVIDE NET WIDENING SAFEGUARDS
INCLUDE OVERRIDE PROVISION
INSURE MEASURE IS USED BY QUALIFIED AND TRAINED PROFESSIONAL

38. BENEFITS OF STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS FOR THE CASE WORKER
ASSISTS IN COLLECTING AND RECORDING RELEVANT INFORMATION; INSURES THAT KEY QUESTIONS ARE ASKED AND DOCUMENTED
ASSISTS IN CASE PLANNING; HELPS IN FORMING JUDGMENTS ABOUT RISK AND NEED AND LINKING WITH PROGRAM PLANNING
FACILITATES COMMUNICATION AMONG PROFESSIONALS; INSURES WE ARE ALL TALKING THE SAME LANGUAGE

39. HELPS IN TRACKING CHANGES IN THE RISK AND NEED LEVELS OF CLIENTS
PROVIDES PROTECTION WHERE JUDGMENTS ARE QUESTIONED; CAN SHOW THAT JUDGMENTS WERE BASED ON A THOROUGH AND OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE CLIENT

40. BENEFITS OF STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS FOR MANAGEMENT
ASSISTS IN COLLECTING AND RECORDING DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT CLIENTS AND SERVICES
HELPS INSURE CONSISTENCY IN DECISION MAKING
ASSISTS IN ALLOCATING RESOURCES WITHIN THE AGENCY; INSURES THAT CASE LOADS ARE FAIRLY DISTRIBUTED
PROVIDES QUALITY INFORMATION FOR AUDITING AND FUNDING PURPOSES

41. SOME FEATURES OF THE CANADIAN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT

42. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT
THE GOALS OF THE SYSTEM ARE TO:
ENSURE THAT A YOUNG PERSON IS SUBJECT TO MEANINGFUL CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS/HER BEHAVIOUR TO INSURE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC
ENCOURAGE THE REPAIR OF HARM TO VICTIMS & THE COMMUNITY

43. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT [CONTINUED]
ENSURE THAT CONSEQUENCES ARE MEANINGFUL TO THE YOUNG PERSON AND, WHERE POSSIBLE, INVOLVE THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
PREVENT CRIME BY ADDRESSING THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDERLYING THE OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR

44. SELECTED PRINCIPLES OF THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT [CONTINUED]
REHABILITATE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COMMIT OFFENCES AND REINTEGRATE THEM INTO SOCIETY
REINFORCE RESPECT FOR SOCIAL VALUES

45. SENTENCING PRINCIPLES
ALL AVAILABLE ALTERNATIVES TO CUSTODY MUST BE CONSIDERED
SENTENCE MUST BE LEAST RESTRICTIVE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER SENTENCING PRINCIPLES
SENTENCE SELECTED MUST BE THAT MOST LIKELY TO REHABILITATE THE YOUNG PERSON AND REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY AND PROMOTE A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THE YOUNG PERSON

46. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT
EXTRAJUDICIAL MEASURES (DIVERSION)
EXTRAJUDICIAL SANCTIONS
PROBATION
CUSTODY
INTENSIVE SUPPORT & SUPERVISION PROBATION
INTENSIVE REHABILITATIVE CUSTODY & SUPERVISION
POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION

47. BARRIERS TO THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES
LIMITED RESOURCES
INEFFECTIVE PROGRAMS
FRAGMENTATION OF SERVICES
EXCESSIVE MORALIZING

48. SOURCES OF OPTIMISM
ADVANCES IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN YOUTH
ADVANCES IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT DOES AND DOES NOT WORK
LARGE NUMBER OF COMMITTED PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM