Juvenile Offender Classification System Components

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The objective of the Risk Assessment Scale is to permit accurate classification of juvenile offenders referred to Missouri Juvenile Courts according to their likelihood of recidivating. Offenders are classified as being at Low, Moderate, or High risk for new offense behavior.

The risk scale is comprised of the following ten “risk factors” shown by research to be associated with offense behavior:
  • Age at first referral
  • Prior referrals
  • Peer relationships
  • Family dynamics
  • School behavior
  • History of abuse and/or neglect
  • Referrals for assault
  • History of out-of-home placement
  • Substance abuse
  • History of parental incarceration

Scale development was based on a prospective research design intended to ensure empirically based validity.

The Classification Matrix allows juvenile justice professionals to link offenders with different offenses types (status, misdemeanor, felony) and risk potentials, as indicated by their risk scores, to a set of graduated sanctions intended to reduce the likelihood of re-offending. The degree of invasiveness of the recommended sanctions ranges from restitution to commitment to the Missouri Division of Youth Services.

The aim of the Needs Assessment Scale is to identify the type and seriousness of psychosocial need presented by juvenile offenders. Currently, the needs scale addresses the following 16 areas relevant to the psychosocial development of youthful offenders:
  • Behavior problems
  • Attitude
  • Interpersonal skills
  • History of abuse and neglect
  • Mental health
  • Substance abuse
  • School attendance/disciplinary
  • Academic performance
  • Learning disorder
  • Employment
  • Juvenile's parental responsibility
  • Physical health
  • Parental management style
  • Parental mental health
  • Parental substance abuse
  • Social support

Unlike the risk scale, needs assessment is not intended to predict future behavior. Instead, the information generated by this scale can be used at the individual case level for treatment planning, and/or at an administrative and policy level by identifying the resource needs of a given circuit.

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