NCJ Number
178349
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: March 1999 Pages: 69-89
Date Published
1999
Length
21 pages
Annotation
The validity of a newly developed probation risk and need assessment for juvenile delinquency was evaluated in a medium-sized Canadian city.
Abstract
Two hundred sixty-three young offenders ages 12-17 years were assessed on the Ministry Risk/Need Assessment Form. The participants were among the clients of two major probation offices. Two hundred fifty youths were followed up at 6 months to determine if they had offended after their initial assessment. Results indicated that the total risk/need score and all eight risk/need factors could discriminate between recidivists and nonrecidivists. In addition, the ethnicity and sex of young offenders were inconsequential with respect to the instrument's prediction of recidivism, despite some differences between native and non-native youths and between male and female youths. Therefore, the findings support the instrument as a robust risk/need assessment instrument for young offenders regardless of gender or ethnicity. Tables, figures, and 38 references (Author abstract modified)