AUTOMATED (COMPUTER SCORED) ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS

Description: The Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) is an automated (computer scored) juvenile assessment instrument or test.  The JPT consists of 140 items and takes 25 to 30 minutes to complete.  Tests are computer scored with printed reports available on-site within 2½ minutes.  The Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) contains 7 scales (measures): 1. Validity (Truthfulness) Scale, 2. Alcohol Severity Scale, 3. Drugs Severity Scale, 4. Lethality (Violence) Scale, 5. Distress Scale, 6. Adjustment Scale and 7. Stress Quotient Scale.  The Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) evolved from the ACDI-Corrections Version II.  The Juvenile Pretrial Test name is used for recognition of its pretrial test standardization.

Seven JPT Scales (Measures)

1.      Validity (Truthfulness) Scale: Measures the juvenile’s truthfulness while completing the Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT).  This scale identifies denial, guardedness, problem minimization and attempts to fake good.

2.      Alcohol Severity Scale: Measures alcohol use and the severity of abuse.  Alcohol refers to beer, wine and other liquors. 

3.      Drugs Severity Scale: Measures illicit drug use and the severity of abuse.  Drugs refer to marijuana (pot), crack, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates and heroin.  This scale is independent of the Alcohol Severity Scale.

4.      Lethality (Violence) Scale: Measures the use of force to injure, damage or destroy.  This scale identifies the youth’s danger to self and others.  Over the past decade juvenile violence has been increasing.  High scorers (90th percentile and above) are capable of suicide or homicide.

5. Distress Scale: Measures strain imposed by pain, worry, anxiety, depression and suffering.  Distress is the most common reason for juveniles to seek counseling.

6.      Adjustment Scale: Measures the youth’s ability to adapt, conform and function.  This scale recognizes personal and social stressors at home, school and in authority relationships.  It incorporates personal and social stressors at home and school.

7.      Stress Quotient Scale: Measures the youth’s ability to cope with stress, anxiety and pressure.  Stress exacerbates symptoms of emotional and mental health problems.  This scale is a non-introversive way to screen for the presence of established emotional problems.

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Why use the Juvenile Pretrial Test?  While adult crime rates have recently fallen across the U.S., they have risen among the nation’s youth.  For example, as the adult arrest rate for murder (lethality) fell from 1978 to 1993, the juvenile murder (lethality) rate rose by 77%.  And at the same time the arrest rate of youth for all violent crimes climbed 79%.  These statistics underscore the need for meaningful and accurate juvenile assessment.  Early detection of troubled youth’s problems facilitates quicker intervention and treatment.

This type of information also helps in deciding upon counseling, treatment, probation, levels of supervision and alternatives to incarceration.  The Juvenile Pretrial Test meets these needs.  The JPT is much more than just another alcohol or drug test.  Click on the Test Comparison Checklist link to compare the JPT to other tests.

At one sitting of approximately 30 minutes duration the court can acquire a vast amount of juvenile-related information.  This information includes the juvenile’s attitudes, substance (alcohol and other drugs) abuse involvement, violence and lethality propensity, perceived distress and coping behaviors.  Early problem identification facilitates timely intervention and improved treatment results.

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JPT  RESEARCH

Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) normative research is summarized in the document “JPT: An Inventory of Scientific Findings.”  JPT scales were compared to other tests and scales that purportedly measured the same thing.  Subsequent database research emphasizes JPT reliability, validity and accuracy.  This research is available upon request.

For reference, internal consistencies (coefficient alpha) of Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) scales are reported for 2,180 troubled youth assessed in 2000.

All JPT 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.  To review a Juvenile Pretrial Test research study click on this Juvenile Pretrial Test Research Study link.

UNIQUE FEATURES

The Juvenile Pretrial Test’s unique features are many and include a Validity (Truthfulness) Scale that determines how truthful the youth was while completing the test.  The Lethality (Violence) Scale identifies youth that are a danger to themselves and others.  And there are four ways to give the JPT: 1. Paper-pencil test administration, 2. On the computer monitor (screen) itself. 3. Human Voice Audio that requires a headset and computer.  The three test administration modes are also available in both English and Spanish.  4. Online administration. The JPT is available on our online testing platform, www.online-testing.com. Confidentiality is assured with Risk & Needs proprietary “delete client names” from diskettes software.  Juvenile names are removed from test diskettes before they are returned to Risk & Needs for inclusion in the JPT’s expanding database.  This procedure insures client confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA (federal regulation 45 C.F.R. 164.501) requirements. The built-in database insures ongoing research and permits user test program summaries - at no additional cost to test users.

CONVENIENCE  LINKS

= The JPT Example Report link takes you to the example report that is presented later in this discussion.  Sometimes it helps to see what a test report looks like.  It also shows how JPT test data is summarized and presented.

= The Test Comparison Checklist provides information in a checklist format that helps compare the JPT with other tests.

= The Cost (Test Unit Fee) link explains JPT cost in a straight forward manner.  The JPT is a very affordable test.

= The Free Examination Kit link allows interested parties to try out the JPT and see what it does before purchasing it.  The Examination Kit contains one-test applications.

= The JPT Scale Interpretation link provides additional discussion on scale interpretation and interrelationships.

= The JPT Research Study link takes you to a JPT Research Study which provides impressive validity, reliability and accuracy statistics.  The JPT has been empirically demonstrated to be a sound juvenile assessment instrument or test.

= The How To Order Tests link provides a straightforward 1-2-3 approach to ordering Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) tests.  Tests can be ordered directly from this website or by telephone (602) 234-3506, fax (602) 266-8227 or e-mail.

RISK & NEEDS WEBSITE

More Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) information and research is provided on the Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. website www.riskandneeds.com.  Click on this link and you will go directly to Risk & Needs website.  Then click on the “Tests Alphabetically Listed” link, scroll down to the Juvenile Pretrial Test and click on its name.  You will be taken directly to the Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) webpage.

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JUVENILE PRETRIAL TEST (JPT)
EXAMPLE REPORT

The Juvenile Pretrial Test report summarizes the juvenile's self-reported history, explains what attained scale scores mean and offers score-related recommendations.  Within 2½ minutes of the test data entry, automated (computer-scored) 4-page reports are printed on-site.

View a Juvenile Pretrial Test example report by clicking this Example Report link

JUVENILE  PRETRIAL  TEST  (JPT)
SCALE  INTERPRETATION

There are several levels of Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) interpretation ranging from viewing the JPT as a self-report to interpreting scale elevations and inter-relationships.  Click on the JPT Scale Interpretation link for a better understanding of Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) scales and scale score interrelationships.

JUVENILE PRETRIAL TEST SUMMARY

We hope this Juvenile Pretrial Test (JPT) website “juvenile-court-tests.com” has been informative and helpful.  If you desire more automated (computer scored) assessment information we recommend Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com which is in greater depth and detail.  When you arrive at Risk & Needs site, there are important links in the left margin of each webpage.  Click on the “Tests Alphabetically Listed” link, and then scroll down to the tests name that is of interest to you.  Click on the tests name and you will go directly to that tests webpage.

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 website 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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