Creation and Validation of the Ohio Youth Assessment System (OYAS) and Strategies for Successful Implementation

Abstract

As Ohio began to address the gaps in delivering effective juvenile justice programming in the state, it recognized that a statewide risk assessment system was needed. The Department of Youth Services (DYS) explored its options and determined that the best course of action was to develop a risk assessment prospectively to address the needs of youth across multiple stages of the juvenile justice system. DYS partnered with the University of Cincinnati Center for Criminal Justice Research (CCJR) to develop the Ohio Youth Assessment System (OYAS). The OYAS contains five tools: a diversion tool, a detention tool, a disposition tool, a residential tool, and a reentry tool. Each tool is used at the appropriate stage to assess the criminogenic needs of the youth at that stage and to help guide decisions for appropriate interventions. Results from receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis ranged from area under the curve (AUC) values of .611 on the diversion tool to .721 on the reentry tool, suggesting that the tools did reasonably well in placing a youth into appropriate risk categories compared to randomly selected cases. This article reviews the steps taken to develop, implement, and adopt a statewide risk assessment with fidelity.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Barnoski

(2004). Outcome evaluation of Washington State's research-based programs for juvenile offenders. Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy.

Burgess

E. W.

(1928). Factors determining success or failure on parole. In Bruce

A. A.

Harno

A. J.

Burgess

E. W.

, & Landesco

(Eds.), The workings of the indeterminate sentence laws and parole system in Illinois (pp. 205–249). Springfield, IL: State Board of Parole.

Center for Effective Public Policy. (2010). A framework for evidence-based decision making in local criminal justice systems. Silver Spring, MD: Center for Effective Public Policy.

Fixsen

D. L.

Naoom

S. F.

Blase

K. A.

Friedman

R. M.

& Wallace

(2005). Implementation research: A synthesis of the literature (FMHI Publication #231). Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, The National Implementation Research Network.

Greenhalgh

Robert

MacFarlane

Bate

, & Kyriakidou

(2004). Diffusion of innovations in service organizations: Systematic review and recommendations. Milbank Quarterly, 82(4), 581–629.

Grisso

(2005). Evaluating the properties of instruments for screening and assessment. In Grisso

Vincent

, & Seagrave

(Eds.), Mental health screening and assessment in juvenile justice (pp. 71–93). New York: Guilford Press.

Modry

, & Gies

(2005). The use of risk assessment across Ohio. Columbus: Ohio Department of Youth Services.

Mulvey

E. P.

(2005). Risk assessment in juvenile justice policy and practice. In Heilbrun

Sevin Goldstein

N. E.

, & Redding

R. E.

(Eds.), Juvenile delinquency: Prevention, assessment, and intervention (pp. 209–231). New York: Oxford University Press.

Nuttall

C. P.

Barnard

E. F.

Fowles

A. J.

Frost

Hammond

W. H.

Mayhew

Pease

Tarling

, & Weatheritt

M. J.

(1977). Parole in England and Wales (Home Office Research Study No. 38.) London: Home Office.

10.

Skowyra

, & Cocozza

(2007). Blueprint for Change: A comprehensive model for the identification and treatment of youth with mental health needs in contact with the juvenile justice system. Delmar, NY: National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice.

11.

Van Voorhis

(2005). Classification of women offenders: Gender-responsive approaches to risk/needs assessment. Community Corrections Report, 12(2), 19–20, 26–27.

12.

Vincent

Terry

, & Maney

(2010). Risk/needs tools for antisocial behavior and violence among youthful populations. In Andrade

(Ed.), Handbook of violence risk assessment and treatment: New approaches for mental health professionals. New York: Springer Publishing Company.