Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory

To achieve a reduction in recidivism through the prevention of delinquent behavior, we adhere to the three principles of risk, need, and responsivity. A necessary first step in this process is the introduction and use of a valid and reliable assessment instrument, the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), to measure both a youth’s risk to re-offend and needs. This information can then be used to determine appropriate levels of supervision, to establish measurable, case-specific goals, and to better allocate resources in order to achieve effective outcomes for juveniles, their families, and our communities. Applying appropriate interventions (i.e., matching services based on those risk factors) can facilitate behavioral change and potentially reduce recidivism.

The YLS/CMI is a validated and reliable risk instrument that assesses risk for recidivism by measuring 42 risk/need factors over the following eight domains:
• prior and current offenses;
• family circumstances/parenting;
• education/employment;
• peer relations;
• substance abuse;
• leisure/recreation;
• personality/behavior;
• attitudes/orientation.

These domains indicate areas of need that, if addressed, would potentially reduce re-offending behavior or recidivism.

Evidence Based & Cognitive Behavioral Interventions 

Our goal then is to employ evidence-based resources, programs, models, and interventions that are specifically created to target one of the domains identified by the YLS/CMI. There are a variety of interventions available to the office which are proving to have positive results