Youth Level Of Service/Case Management Inventory Research Articles

Predictive Validity of the YLS/CMI in a Sample of Portuguese Young Offenders

The Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) is a widely used risk assessment instrument that comprehensively assesses risk factors and criminogenic needs among young individuals. This study explores the association between YLS/CMI scores and subsequent recidivism among 608 Portuguese young offenders aged 12 to 18 years. The results support the predictive validity of the YLS/CMI in assessing recidivism among young offenders. The study found significant connections between YLS/CMI scores and recidivism for Placement in an Education Center (PEC) measures, indicating higher scores correlated with increased reoffending likelihood. However, no significant association was found between YLS/CMI scores and recidivism in Educational Supervision (ES) measures. These results emphasize the need to consider specific measures when gauging YLS/CMI’s predictive validity.

Criminogenic Risk Assessment Beyond Juvenile Justice: Exploring the Predictive Ability of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) in Norway

This study evaluated the predictive properties of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) in 646 Norwegian adolescents (63% males) placed in non-secure, community-based residential care. Using receiver operating characteristics and logistic regression, the study explored the YLS/CMI’s efficacy in predicting various recidivism outcomes across subgroups. The inventory demonstrated to be a significant predictor for all categories of offending behavior (area under the curve ranged from .62 to .77). Although the YLS/CMI total risk score showed a robust association with offending across subgroups, there were discernible variations in predictive ability between males and females. This pattern extended to analyses of subdomains and have implications for clinical use. Overall, the findings support the YLS/CMI as a useful tool for predicting delinquency in a Norwegian residential setting and contribute to the expanding body of literature supporting the instrument’s utility across various cultures and contexts.

Clinical Override Use With the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory: Predictive Validity and Factors Associated With Case Management Use

Clinical discretion by youth probation officers to override the actuarial risk assessment classification on the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) is an important feature of case management practices. In a sample of 1,259 youth, the impact of clinical override on the predictive validity of the YLS/CMI and factors associated with override use were studied. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, the YLS/CMI demonstrated large effect size predictive validity values for general recidivism. Override occurred with 10.8% of youth and was more likely to be used with younger youth who had a sexual or violent index offense or those at the upper end of the moderate risk level. For youth where override was used, the YLS/CMI predictive validity became non-significant and fell to chance levels. The implications of these findings for field case management use, training, and probation officer decision-making practices are highlighted.

Adolescents in therapeutic residential care: treatment needs and characteristics

ABSTRACT Despite the growing body of literature examining the complex needs of adolescents in residential care populations, few studies have investigated the specific treatment needs and characteristics of adolescents in therapeutic residential care (TRC). This study aimed to describe and compare risk, need and responsivity factors in a national sample of 737 juveniles (63% males, mean age = 16.2) who displayed serious behavioural problems. The study utilised comprehensive assessment data, including demographic information, clinical variables, and risk factors assessed with the Youth Level of Service/Case management Inventory (YLS/CMI). Sample characteristics were explored, and three subgroups were compared: adolescents with serious substance abuse, adolescents with a high risk of continued delinquency and adolescents with low/moderate risk. The sample showed complex needs in multiple criminogenic domains and substantial mental health problems. Subgroups were clearly differentiated by the YLS/CMI risk profile and several demographic attributes; however, most clinical variables concerning mental health overlapped between groups. The findings suggest that TRC interventions should be aimed at reducing the risk of persistent delinquency and structured according to the principles of risk, need and responsivity. The study has important clinical implications for how differentiated services can tailor interventions to group-based needs and characteristics.

Changes in the YLS/CMI risk inventory scores as predictors of MST behavioral treatment goals

PurposeThis study aims to investigate outcomes of multisystemic therapy (MST) using the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) – part I.Design/methodology/approachThis study, using a pre-post design, included a sample of 2,123 Norwegian youths (mean age = 14.7, SD = 1.34). The MST team supervisors assessed the YLS/CMI risk factors in addition to five behavioral treatment goals (Lives at home, Attends school/work, No violence/threats, Law-abiding and Drug-free) before and after treatment. In addition, data included responses from parent interviews six months post treatment.FindingsSignificant correlations were found between the total and dynamic YLS/CMI change scores and the additive index of behavioral treatment goals. In addition, the YLS/CMI change scores predicted the five treatment goals at the termination of treatment and at six-month follow-up.Research limitations/implicationsThe results indicate that the YLS/CMI is a valuable assessment tool for predicting the achievement of MST behavioral goals in adolescents with serious problem behavior.Practical implicationsThis study provides an evaluation of the YLS/CMI in a Norwegian context and adds support for continued use of the YLS/CMI in MST.Originality/valueThis paper provides new insights about the YLS/CMI inventory as a tool for examining treatment change in MST. Results show that the YLS/CMI captures relevant risk factors in the youths’ environment.

Clinical Overrides With the YLS/CMI: Predictive Validity and Associated Factors

This study explores the use of clinical override with the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), including implications for predictive validity as well as the factors associated with this practice. The sample included 597 justice-involved youth from a metropolitan region in Québec, Canada. The clinical override was used in 32.5% of cases, usually to increase risk levels (30.3% of cases). As found in previous studies, clinical override did not increase the predictive validity of the YLS/CMI. Upward and downward clinical overrides were differently linked to the sociodemographic characteristics and criminal history of the youths in the sample. Criminal History, Peer Relations, Personality/Behavior, and Attitudes/Orientation risk/need domains were positively associated with upward override while Family Circumstances/Parenting, Personality/Behavior, and Attitudes/Orientation risk/need domains were negatively associated with downward override. These results are discussed in relation to the impact clinical override can have on the case management and interventions provided to justice-involved youth.

The Relationship Between YLS Score and Length of Placement

Data were obtained from a county juvenile probation department in Pennsylvania to examine the predictive ability of the Youth Level of Service Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) relative to the number of days a juvenile delinquent spent in a residential treatment facility. An analysis of 152 delinquents in placement (n=152) revealed that there is no relationship between scores on the YLS and days spent in a treatment facility. In addition, no relationship was found between days spent in placement and any of the covariates examined.

Predictive validity of the SAVRY, YLS/CMI, and PCL:YV is poor for intimate partner violence perpetration among adolescent offenders.

Despite advances in developing structured risk assessment instruments, there is currently no instrument to assess and manage the risk of intimate partner violence perpetration among adolescents. Given the empirical link between many forms of antisocial behavior, we tested whether structured tools commonly used by professionals to evaluate adolescents' risk of engaging in general violence and offending could be used to identify adolescents at risk for perpetrating intimate partner violence. Because researchers have not yet examined whether risk assessment tools for general violence and offending predict intimate partner violence perpetration, we did not have a priori hypotheses regarding the predictive validity of these tools for this purpose. Research assistants rated 156 adjudicated youth on the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY), Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), and Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) and recorded charges for intimate partner violence perpetration, any violent reoffending, and any reoffending over a 2-year follow-up period. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that total scores and summary risk ratings on the SAVRY and YLS/CMI and total scores on the PCL:YV were significantly predictive of any violent reoffending and any reoffending, with moderate to large effect sizes, but were nonsignificantly associated with intimate partner violence perpetration. Further, penalized logistic regression analysis indicated that the SAVRY, YLS/CMI, and PCL:YV did not significantly add incremental validity to age, gender, race/ethnicity, and prior intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization for predicting future intimate partner violence perpetration. These findings suggest that the SAVRY, YLS/CMI, and PCL:YV could have limitations for assessing and managing intimate partner violence perpetration among adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

A Latent Class Analysis of the Antisocial Attitudes Domain of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory

Antisocial attitudes are a strong predictor of reoffending and frequently incorporated into risk assessment tools, including the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI). However, YLS/CMI Attitudes/Orientation domain items appear to cover different issues—antisocial attitudes and willingness to engage in treatment—which have different implications for case management and service provision. Latent Class Analysis of data from 798 Canadian youth probationers identified four classes based on item endorsement on the Attitudes/Orientation domain: High Overall Attitude Needs (19%), Predominantly Antisocial Attitude Items (20%), Predominantly Lack of Service Engagement (9%), and Low Overall Attitude Needs (52%). Class differences were found on index offense, criminogenic needs, and recidivism, with the High Overall Attitude Needs class presenting as most “negative,” followed by Predominantly Antisocial Attitude Items, Predominantly Lack of Service Engagement, and Low Overall. Understanding attitudes based on this class conceptualization can assist probation officers in targeting services more effectively to justice-involved youth.

Risk and Protective Factors in Child-to-Parent Violence: A Study of the YLS/CMI in a Spanish Juvenile Court

Child to Parent Violence (CPV) is one of the crimes with the highest rates of increase in Spain in recent years, and has had a significant media and social impact. This phenomenon has been analyzed with different methodologies and samples, but very few studies have used a standardized instrument such as the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI). This study examined the heterogeneous profile of youths in a judicial context. The aims of the study were: 1) to evaluate whether there were any differences in sociodemographic and criminogenic factors in a group of youths who committed CPV in comparison to a group who committed other type of crimes. 2) to analyze which risk factors in the YLS/CMI Inventory are the best predictors of CPV. The participants were 341 youths aged between 14 and 17 years old with a record in the Juvenile Court of a Spanish province. The sample covered crimes committed during a follow-up period from 2011 to 2017. The results showed that the CPV group had a higher risk profile than the comparison group. The Family circumstances, Substance abuse and Personality behavior subscales of the YLS/CMI were able to predict CPV among these youths.

Risk profiles in a Spanish sample of juvenile offenders: implications for risk assessment and management

ABSTRACT Risk assessment instruments are designed to help juvenile justice practitioners in decision-making and intervention planning. Previous findings showed that a cumulative risk would be useful in predicting reoffending, whereas a person-centered approach would be more appropriate for risk management and intervention development. Thus, the goal of the current study was to identify risk profiles of juvenile offenders based on the scores obtained in the eight factors assessed by the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) and analyze how they differ in a set of youth demographic factors. The sample was composed of 334 young offenders, 77.2% males, aged 14–21 (M = 16.96; SD = 1.35). The results showed a better fit for the four-class solution, which classified individuals into four different profiles according to their scores on the YLS/CMI: low-needs, antisocial/peers, psychosocial and high-needs. Differences among subgroups were found in terms of gender, age, type of offense and juvenile justice measure. Males were overrepresented in the antisocial/peers and the high-needs groups, and both the low- and high-needs groups were composed by older youths. The identified profiles also differed in type of offenses and in juvenile justice measures. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of risk management.

Examining Sex-Based Measurement Invariance in the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory

Juvenile risk assessments are used to predict likelihood of reoffending in court-involved youths, and inform several decisions throughout court supervision. Accordingly, it is critical that the psychometric properties of juvenile risk assessment instruments are consistent for youths across demographic subgroups, particularly biological sex. This study tests the measurement invariance of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) by sex. Analyses draw from 2,384 youths who were adjudicated as delinquent in a county-level juvenile court. Results indicate that the factor configuration and structure of the YLS/CMI are consistent for youths across sex. However, boys and girls differ appreciably in risk profile. Findings validate the use of the YLS/CMI and highlight the importance of responsivity to sex-based variation in criminogenic risk.

Intersection between Justice-Involved Youth Personality Profiles and Criminal Risk-Need Patterns

To purpose of the current study was to inform system level decision-making about the value of integrating clinically relevant personality information with criminogenic need risk appraisal in justice-involved youth. Using a Canadian sample of youth referred for court-ordered psychological assessments (N = 201, M age=15.62 years; 70% male), we examined the patterns of association and differentiation between youths’ Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) criminogenic need/risk profiles with personality profiles derived from the personality scales of the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI, Millon, Millon adolescent clinical inventory. National Computer Systems, 1993). Specifically, latent profile analysis identified four MACI based personality profiles: externalizing, internalizing, dependent/followers, and complex dysregulated personality profiles. These groups varied significantly on YLS/CMI risk-need profiles. Although both externalizing and complex dysregulated sub-types represented higher criminal risk, their intervention needs diverged meaningfully. These results provide insight into the heterogeneity of justice-involved youth and point to the need for system resources that allow for appropriate intervention matching to maximize the goal of recidivism risk reduction in youth.

The Prediction of Youth Recidivism in a Spanish Roma Population by the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI).

Despite the increasing interest in the accuracy of youth risk assessment tools, the amount of research with ethnic minorities remains relatively modest. For this reason, the main goal of this study was to assess the predictive validity and disparate impact of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) in a Spanish ethnic minority. The participants consisted of 88 Roma youth offenders and 135 non-Roma youth offenders, aged between 14 and 17 years old. Their risk of recidivism was assessed by means of the YLS/CMI Inventory and their recidivism rate was obtained from the Juvenile Justice Department. Results showed that the Inventory presented slightly lower predictive validity for the Roma group. Moreover, Roma juveniles presented higher risk scores and lower strength scores than non-Roma juveniles. These results supported the idea that professionals must therefore be aware of these cultural differences in predictive validity and the existent potentiality for disparate impact.

The Contribution of Static and Dynamic Factors to Recidivism Prediction for Black and White Youth Offenders

Scholars have presented concerns about potential for racial bias in risk assessments as a result of the inclusion of static factors, such as criminal history in risk assessments. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which static factors add incremental validity to the dynamic factors in criminogenic risk assessments. This study examined the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) in a sample of 1,270 youth offenders from a medium-sized Midwestern county between June 2004 and November 2013. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictive validity of the YLS/CMI and the individual contribution of static and dynamic domains of the assessment. Results indicated that the static domain differentially predicted recidivism for Black and White youth. In particular, the static domain was a significant predictor of recidivism for White youth, but this was not the case for Black youth. The dynamic domain significantly predicted recidivism for both Black and White offenders, and static risk factors improved prediction of recidivism for White youth, but not for Black youth.

Is a 7-Item Combination from the YLS/CMI an Effective Screening Strategy for Risk to Reoffend? Findings from a Cross-National Study

Several brief screening measures for youth risk to reoffend have been developed; however, these measures have been tested primarily in high-income English-speaking countries and their predictive validity is limited. A recent study proposed a screening strategy using a combination of seven items from the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI). Predictive validity for this strategy was better than that reported in studies of previously developed screening tools. In the current study, the predictive validity of this strategy was examined across samples of justice-involved youth from two countries: Canada ( N = 196) and Portugal ( N = 2,348). The full version of the YLS/CMI was completed and recidivism data were collected over a 2-year period. Results support the predictive validity of this strategy, with area under the curve (AUC) values (.69–.74) very similar to those found in the full version in each country, both in the full samples, and for both genders.

Assessing Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory Implementation Outcomes: Lessons from Five Diverse Pennsylvania Counties

We examined implementation outcomes several years after rollout of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) risk/need assessment (RNA) tool in five diverse Pennsylvania county juvenile probation offices. Offices had policies to direct the use of the YLS/CMI, and officers tended to view the tool favorably, complete it, and apply it in their work. However, there were also variations in the extent of implementation. These seemed related to differences in office leadership and climate, implementation and quality assurance strategies, probation officers’ support for reforms, and the broader stakeholder environment. Results are largely consistent with implementation science principles.

IRT-Based Differential Item Functioning Analysis of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory Across Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Youth

Even though risk assessments are routinely conducted in the criminal justice system to inform sentencing and case management, their cross-cultural applicability remains contested. This study investigated the generalizability of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), a widely implemented youth forensic risk assessment instrument, using an Item Response Theory framework, in a sample of Indigenous ( n = 205) and non-Indigenous ( n = 193) youth. Differential item functioning analyses demonstrated similar discrimination across groups. However, despite similar latent risk levels, non-Indigenous youth were more likely to have items from the Education domain endorsed, while Indigenous youth were more likely to have items from the Substance Abuse domain endorsed. Predictive accuracy analyses indicated that total YLS/CMI scores significantly predicted general recidivism (without administration of justice convictions) for non-Indigenous youth, but not for Indigenous youth. There is an urgent need for more research investigating the applicability of the YLS/CMI to diverse groups of Indigenous youth.

Gender-Based Psychosocial Differences in a Sample of Young Offenders.

This study analyzes the differential psychosocial characteristics of male and female young offenders with a judicial measure from a juvenile court in Spain. Data on origin, recidivism, criminal and psychosocial characteristics of a sample of 838 juvenile offenders were collected using the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI). Most of the minors were males (n = 650; 77.6%). Regarding the type of offences committed most males committed some type of crime, while females mainly committed misdemeanours. The rates of infractions committed by large groups and belonging to a gang were higher in males than in females. Concerning psychosocial variables, females presented with higher scores than males in three areas (parenting/educational guidelines, leisure and recreation, attitudes and orientation), in the total score and in several specific variables of the YLS/CMI. Moreover, having a poor relationship with one's mother and limited participation in organized activities were related to being a female minor offender, whereas having a short attention span was related to being a male offender. These three variables correctly classified 77.6% of cases. Female minor offenders present with a more severe psychosocial profile than males. Therefore, gender-based variables should be considered and addressed in prevention and intervention programmes for minors.

The Utility of SAPROF-YV Ratings for Predicting Recidivism in Male Youth Under Community Supervision in Singapore

There is bourgeoning empirical support for the usage of the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors (SAPROF) across many jurisdictions, but there is a dearth of research on the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors for Violence Risk—Youth Version (SAPROF-YV). This study examined (a) the predictive validity of the SAPROF-YV ratings for general recidivism and (b) the incremental predictive validity of the SAPROF-YV ratings when used in conjunction with the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) 2.0 ratings. Using a sample of 822 male youths who were involved with the justice system and under community supervision in Singapore, the results showed that the SAPROF-YV total score and final protection judgment rating were significantly predictive of general recidivism. Moreover, the SAPROF-YV total score and final judgment rating showed incremental predictive validity over the YLS/CMI 2.0 total score and risk rating. Overall, the results suggest that SAPROF-YV ratings are suited for assessing justice-involved youth within the Singaporean context and can be used in conjunction with YLS/CMI 2.0 ratings for predicting recidivism.