AUTOMATED (COMPUTER SCORED) ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS

Applications

=   Juvenile court evaluations

=   Juvenile presentence evaluations

=   Probation and community corrections

NINE JUVENILE PRESENTENCE EVALUATION SCALES

1. Truthfulness Scale: Measures how truthful the juvenile was while completing the test.  This scale identifies denial, problem minimization and attempts to fake good.

2.  Suicide Scale: Identifies suicide prone individuals.  Some youths are emotionally overwhelmed, desperate and dangerous to themselves.

3.  Resistance Scale: Measures defensiveness, uncooperativeness, and resistance.  Some youths resist help, whereas others accept it.

4. Self-Esteem Scale: Reflects a youth’s explicit valuing and appraisal of self.  It incorporates an attitude of acceptance-approval versus rejection-disapproval of self.

5.      Violence (Lethality) Scale: Measures the use of force to injure, damage or destroy.  This scale measures the youth’s danger to self and others.

6.      Alcohol Scale: Measures alcohol (beer, wine and other liquor) use and abuse.  It measures the severity of alcohol abuse.

7.      Drugs Scale: Measures illicit drugs use and abuse.  Drugs refer to marijuana, crack, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates and heroin.

8.      Distress Scale: Measures experienced pain, worry, sorrow and grief.  Distress is one of the most common reasons juveniles seek counseling.

9.      Stress Coping Abilities Scale: Measures how well the youth handles stress, tension and pressure.  Stress exacerbates symptoms of emotional problems.

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Why use the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation?

Juvenile crime rates have risen across the U.S.  These statistics underscore the affects of substance (alcohol and other drugs) abuse and juvenile violence.  Early detection of juvenile problems facilitates prompt and effective decision making.  This type of information helps in deciding upon probation, treatment and incarceration alternatives.  It also provides empirically based information upon which decisions (supervision, treatment and incarceration) can be based.

At one sitting of approximately 35 minutes duration the court can acquire a vast amount of defendant information that includes attitudinal behavioral and juvenile problems.  Early problem identification facilitates timely intervention and improved outcomes.

JUVENILE  PRESENTENCE  EVALUATION
UNIQUE  FEATURES

Truthfulness Scale: Measures how open, cooperative and truthful the juvenile was while completing the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE).

Violence (Lethality) Scale: Measures the juvenile’s propensity for using force to injure, damage or destroy.  Extreme violence can result in serious injury, lethality or death.

Match Problem Severity and Treatment Intensity: Juvenile Presentence Evaluation Scales (measures) measure problem severity. This is important because it enables evaluators to match problem severity with treatment intensity. And we now know that proper matching of problem severity with treatment intensity is an important factor in program effectiveness.

Four ways to administer the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation:  This test can be administered in four different ways:  1. Paper-pencil test administration.is by far the most popular way to administer tests. Paper - pencil testing allows both individual and group testing.   2. On the computer monitor. or screen. Testing on the computer monitor is usually faster than paper- pencil testing. However, many assessment agencies do not want to tie up their computers for test administration. 3. Human-voice-audio involves a computer and headset. Test items are read to the youth in English or Spanish. This procedure helps when juveniles have reading impairments. It also helps resolve language, cultural, and communication difficulties. And 4. Online (Internet) testing. Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. (Risk & Needs) tests are now offfered over its internet (online) testing platform www.online-testing.com.Each of these test administration options has unique advantages. Risk & Needs wants to offer test administration solutions that meet assessors, evaluators and testers needs.

Confidentiality: Risk & Needs proprietary client name deletion procedure involves a few keystrokes to eliminate (remove) all juvenile names from the diskette.  This procedure insures client confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA (federal regulation 45 C.F.R. 164.501) requirements.

JUVENILE  PRESENTENCE  EVALUATION NAVIGATION  LINKS

= Click on the Cost (Test Unit Fee) link to understand the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) test unit fee.  There is only the one nominal charge and everything else (e.g., test booklets, diskettes, scoring and printing reports, consultation, training manuals, annual summary reports, updates and support services) is provided at no additional cost.  To appreciate the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) test unit fee click on the Cost (Test Unit Fee).

= To help focus “test comparison” click on the Test Comparison Checklist link.  Without a comparison checklist it can be difficult to compare apples and oranges.  The Test Comparison Checklist is available to help summarize important troubled youth assessment features that should be compared when selecting a test for your needs.

= If you want to go directly to the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation or JPE Example Report click on this link.  Although these reports are highly individualized in terms of scores and recommendations, they all follow a similar structure or outline format.  To review an example report click on the JPE Example Report link.

= An examination kit consisting of one Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) tests is available at no charge or cost.  To obtain more information on the JPE Examination Kit click on this link.  However, we do request that the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) test booklet and diskette be returned within 30 days.

= Click on the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation or JPE Research Study link to read more about the JPE’s reliability, validity and accuracy.  Much of the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation’s standardization research is summarized in a document titled “JPE: An Inventory of Scientific Findings.”  This document can be provided upon request.  And additional Juvenile Presentence Evaluation information along with research studies are available on Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. website www.riskandneeds.com.

= For a very straightforward explanation of "How to Order" JPE tests click on this How To Order link.

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JUVENILE PRESENTENCE EVALUATION
RESEARCH

Internal consistencies (coefficient alpha) of Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) scales are presented in the following table.  This study incorporates 1,329 juveniles screened in 2001.

All Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) scales have alpha coefficients well above the professionally accepted standard of .80 and are highly reliable.  All coefficient alphas are significant at the p<.001 level of significance.  The Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) is a reliable test.  To review a Juvenile Presentence Evaluation research study click on this JPE Research Study link.

Early Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) studies used criterion measures and the scales were validated with other tests, e.g., MMPI, 16PF, Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, ACDI-Corrections Version II, etc.  It has been empirically demonstrated that the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) is a valid, reliable and accurate test.  With regard to Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) research, additional information can be provided upon request.  Much of this research is summarized in the “JPE: An Inventory of Scientific Findings.”  Other Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) research is reported in the Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com.  When you arrive at the Risk & Needs website there are important navigational links in the left margin of each webpage.  Click on the "Tests Alphabetically Listed" link, then scroll down to the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation test name.  Click on the JPE test name and you will go directly to the JPE webpage.

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JUVENILE PRESENTENCE EVALUATION EXAMPLE REPORT

Within 2½ minutes of data entry, Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) reports are scored and printed on-site. These reports summarize a lot of information in an easily understood format. For example, these reports include a JPE profile (graph), which summarizes scale scores at a glance. Also included are attained scale scores, an explanation of what each score means and specific score-related recommendations. In addition, significant items (direct admissions) are highlighted, and answers to a built-in interview (last sequence of items) are presented. Emphasis is placed on having meaningful reports that are helpful and easily understood.

View Juvenile Presentence Evaluation example report by clicking this Example Report link

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If you desire more information on the Juvenile Presentence Evaluation (JPE) you can visit Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com or contact Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc., P.O. Box 44828, Phoenix, Arizona 85064-4828.  Risk & Needs offices are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) Monday through Friday.  Our telephone number is (602) 234-3506, our fax number is (602) 266-8227 and our e-mail address is skarca@riskandneeds.com

FOUR JUVENILE COURT TEST LINKS

You are provided another opportunity to click on a tests name and go directly to that tests presentation and discussion on this website.  Some visitors will be interested in one juvenile court test, whereas others will read this entire websites discussion of four juvenile tests.

Each juvenile court test is discussed in the order it is presented above.

Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc.
P.O. Box 44828
Phoenix, Arizona 85064-4828

Telephone: (602) 234-3506
Fax: (602) 266-8227
E-mail:skarca@riskandneeds.com

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