Risk Assessment: Identifying Patterns of Risk in Young Offenders with the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory

• NCJ Number: 223067
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 36 Issue: 2 Dated: May/June 2008 Pages: 165-173
• Author(s): Eyitayo Onifade; William Davidson; Sarah Livsey; Garrett Turke; Chris Horton; Jill Malinowski; Dan Atkinson; Dominique Wimberly
• Date Published: May 2008
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study sought to determine whether profiles of offenders would provide valid and useful information beyond simple risk level.

Abstract

Using the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), the study identified five risk profiles. Consistent with previous research, the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) had an acceptable level of internal consistency. Also, the results indicate that there were separate and distinct patterns of risk in both the intake division sample and probation division sample. Moreover, these profiles were seemingly related to demographic background, at least in the case of African-American and White racial groups and gender. The study provides some beginning evidence that youth can share cumulative risk levels but have very distinct patterns of risk resulting in differences in recidivism rates. Effective case management of juvenile offenders requires differential treatment of juveniles that is based on clearly established patterns of need and risk ascertained by valid risk prediction tools. By grouping offenders, it may be possible to improve risk prediction and more directly derive multiple etiological pathways and intervention foci. This was the goal of the investigative study. This study employed one of the most widely used third generation instruments the YLS/CMI. The YLS/CMI was created as an assessment instrument to provide valid information on the likelihood of future crime and on the pattern need. This study was a secondary analysis of data collected as part of a larger project to implement a differential treatment strategy based on YLS/CMI risk assessments in a juvenile justice system in a medium-sized midwestern industrial county. The study sought to take simple risk prediction a step further by identifying patterns of risk scores on the YLS/CMI. The primary goal was to determine profiles beyond a unidimensional risk group. Tables, figure, and references