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Innovation Brief: Using Risk Assessment to Meet Needs and Reduce Recidivism

NCJ Number
242123
Author(s)
Gina M. Vincent, Ph.D.; Laura S. Guy, Ph.D.
Date Published
December 2012
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report documents the implementation and outcome of Pennsylvania's use of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS) to assess a youth's risk of reoffending and then matching services to his or her specific risk factors.
Abstract
This study of the impact of YLS risk assessment by the probation offices of three Pennsylvania counties showed that it improved the probation offices' ability to assign appropriate community-based services and levels of monitoring to individual offenders, and it significantly decreased reoffense rates in one of the three counties. The Pennsylvania pilot effort in instituting YLS risk assessment for juveniles produced a number of conclusions about lessons learned. One important finding was that probation officers can reliably conduct the YLS; however without full participation in the effort from judges, attorneys, and other key stakeholders, assessment tools are unlikely to make a difference in outcomes. Another lesson learned is that the use of risk assessment leads to sounder, more evidence-based decisionmaking; and there is also great potential for cost-saving and other benefits. This occurs as resources are concentrated on the highest risk offenders rather than being equally divided among both high-risk and low-risk offenders. This strategy is based on research that shows low-risk offenders are unlikely to reoffend even without intensive treatment and supervision; whereas, high-risk offenders are likely to benefit from evidence-based treatment and intensive supervision. This strategy improves the cost-effectiveness of probation. Three Web sites are listed for resources. 2 figures