The Utility of Strength Measures in Juvenile Risk/Need Assessment

• In Event: Criminogenic Needs, Strengths, and Treatment Factors as Considerations for Case Management with Juvenile Offender Populations

Abstract

The study of strengths, or so-called protective factors, represents a strong tradition in the juvenile delinquency literature. Researchers have examined how protective factors insulate youth from involvement in delinquency and whether such factors interact with risk. While the field of juvenile risk and needs assessment has advanced significantly over the past 20 years, strengths are not typically included in assessment protocols. Recently, there have been reports of attempts to incorporate strengths within juvenile assessments. Using a large sample of justice-involved youth assessed with the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI), this paper examines the contribution of strengths to the prediction of recidivism over a three year follow-up period. The identification of a risk by strength buffering effect is discussed with respect to potential applications in case classification. In addition, the practical implications of employing strength measures for case planning and reassessment will be examined.

Authors

• David Robinson, Orbis Partners

• Michelle Naples, Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services

• Natalie Jones, Orbis Partners