NCJ Number
222584
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 69 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2007 Pages: 76-78
Date Published
February 2007
Length
3 pages
Annotation
In relation to the juvenile justice profession and good client management, this article discusses the critical function of assessment, integrating assessment with client management and suggests a model for providing evidence-based services.
Abstract
An integrated assessment system or client management system refers to a relatively new concept in the classification and management of juvenile offender cases. In an integrated model, systematic assessment of a youth’s criminogenic needs provides the basis for all future client management activities. An integrated approach to assessment, service planning and treatment holds enormous promise for juvenile justice professions’ work with youths for many reasons. The model of integrated assessment and client case planning presented uses an evidence-based approach to service planning, and client management. That is, the model is based on current research findings related to the causes of and effective treatments for juvenile offenders. In addition, the model is based on what is known about the causes of criminal recidivism in youths and on effective methods for interrupting a pattern of youthful offending. The model makes sense from both a research perspective, as well as from the pragmatic, bottom-line perspective of decisionmakers interested in reducing recidivism and increasing positive youth outcomes. Today, a number of local and State jurisdictions have embraced the concepts of integrated client management and evidence-based interventions and are in various stages of putting the ideas into practice. 1 figure, 6 endnotes