An Examination of the Characteristics of Juvenile Sex Offenders Using the JSOAP-II and YLS/CMI

• In Event: The Use of Risk Assessment Tools to Inform and Evaluate Correctional Practices and Policies

Abstract

Juvenile sex offenders are a subset of youth involved in the juvenile justice system that potentially have unique risks and needs that differentiate them from adult sex offenders as well as other juvenile offenders. This study examined the risk and needs of juvenile sex offenders using both the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) and the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II (JSOAP-II). Archival data was used from a juvenile court in a midsized Midwestern county. This study examines a sample of 99 juvenile sex offenders (Mage= 14.35, SD = 1.76). The sample consisted of White (62%), Hispanic (4.3%), Black (28.3%), and other (5.4%) male (n = 97) and female (n = 2) offenders. Mean scores on the JSOAP-II and YLS/CMI were MJSOAP = 17.71, SD = 7.77; MYLS/CMI = 10.83, SD = 6.20. There were 19 total recidivists within a minimum of a two-year follow-up. Reliability analyses indicate that both the YLS/CMI and the JSOAP-II have good internal consistency at α = .838 and .843. AUC analyses indicated that the JSOAP-II and YLS/CMI was not a good predictor of general recidivism. Follow-up comparative analyses were completed to determine how sex offenders differed from general delinquents. Research implications are discussed.

Authors

• William Miller, University of Cincinnati

• Christina A Campbell, University of Cincinnati