ASSESSMENTS OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES

DR. ROBERT D. HOGEDEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

CARLETON UNIVERSITYOTTAWA, ONTARIO K1S 5B6

613-520-5773 robert_hoge@carleton.ca

SERVICE GOALS OF JUDICIAL & CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS

• COMMUNITY PROTECTION

• HOLDING YOUTH ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACTIONS

• ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE VICTIM

• COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT

THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH BACKGROUND

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

CONCLUSIONS FROM THE RESEARCH LITERATURE

• EARLY INTERVENTIONS WITH HIGH RISK CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WORK

• PUNITIVE SANCTIONS DO NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON REOFFENDING

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

KEY CONCEPTS FROM THE RISK/NEED MODEL

• CRIMINOGENIC RISK

• CRIMINOGENIC NEED

• RESPONSIVITY

CRIMINOGENIC RISK FACTORS

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

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

OTHER RISK FACTORS

• PROBLEMS IN THE FAMILY OF ORIGIN: CRIMINALITY, MENTAL DISORDER, ABUSE

• INADEQUATE ACCOMMODATIONS• ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE• DYSFUNCTIONAL NEIGHGBOURHOOD

ENVIRONMENT

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)

CRIMINOGENIC NEED FACTORS

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

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

NEED PRINCIPLE OF CASE CLASSIFICATION

SERVICES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE CLIENT

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.

EXAMPLES OF RESPONSIVITY FACTORS

• INTELLIGENCE• LEARNING STYLE• TREATMENT READINESS & MOTIVATION• EMOTIONAL DISORDER• ANGER/HOSTILITY

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

RESPONSIVITY PRINCIPLE OF CASE CLASSIFICATION

CONTENT AND MODES OF SERVICE SHOULD MATCH RESPONSIVITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLIENT

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)

• TREATMENTS ARE DELIVERED IN THE

COMMUNITY SETTING WHERE FEASIBLE

• WHERE INSTITUTIONALIZION IS NECESSARY,

NEEDED SERVICES ARE PROVIDED

• TREATMENTS ARE STRUCTURED AND FOCUS ON

CONCRETE BEHAVIOURAL GOALS

• TREATMENTS ARE MULTIMODAL - ADDRESS ALL

AREAS OF NEED

• INDIVIDUALS DELIVERING TREATMENT ARE

SELECTED WITH CARE AND PROVIDED MEANINGFUL

SUPPORT

• STAFF TAKE CARE TO INSURE THAT THEY REPRESENT PROSOCIAL MODELS

• AFTERCARE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT

• PROGRAM DELIVERY & IMPACT IS CAREFULLY MONITORED

Adherence to Principles by Setting

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

0 1 2 3

# of Treatment Principles

Decrease

Increase

Reci

divi

sm

Community

Residence

Targeting Criminogenic Need: Results from Meta-Analyses from Youthful Offenders

-0.05

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

Less than half criminogenic Fifty % or more criminogenic

Reduction in Recidivism

Increase in Recidivism

Source: Dowden and Andrews (1999). What Works in Youthful Offender Treatment. Forum on Correctional Research.

INTRODUCTION TO ASSESSMENTSIN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

• 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

• INCORPORATE A PROFESSIONAL OVERRIDE AND GENERALLY VALUE PROFESSIONAL DISCRETION

• BE ACCEPTED AS A USEFUL TOOL BY THE PROFESSIONAL WORKER

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

PART IASSESSMENT OF RISKS & NEEDS

• PRIOR & CURRENT OFFENCES/DISPOSITIONS• FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES/PARENTING• EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT• PEER RELATIONS• SUBSTANCE ABUSE• LEISURE/RECREATION• PERSONALITY/BEHAVIOUR• ATTITUDES/ORIENTATION

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

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

• 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

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

SOME FEATURES OF THE CANADIAN JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM

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

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT

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

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

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

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

BARRIERS TO THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES

• LIMITED RESOURCES

• INEFFECTIVE PROGRAMS

• FRAGMENTATION OF SERVICES

• EXCESSIVE MORALIZING

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