NCJ Number
164738
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1996) Pages: 593-606
Date Published
1996
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The relative usefulness of clinical interviews and self-administered assessments of offenders in drug treatment was studied using data from 65 probationers admitted to the Community Restitution and Treatment Center in Fort Worth, Tex. between July and October 1993.
Abstract
The Brief Background Assessment (BBA), an intake instrument, was administered to the participants as both a structured interview and as a self-administered assessment. Participants who entered on even-numbered days first self-administered the form in a small group setting within 3 days of arrival and next completed the form in an interview 7 days later. Those entering on odd-numbered days were first interviewed and then self-administered the form 7 days later. Results revealed high agreement between the two methods of administration across all areas assessed by the BBA. Similarly, responses that did not agree were distributed randomly across the type of administration. Findings suggest that information collected by a self-administered intake assessment such as the BBA provides information similar to that gathered by interview-base intake assessments. Tables and 22 references (Author abstract modified)