NCJ Number
188799
Journal
Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2001 Pages: 85-95
Date Published
April 2001
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study identified and assessed some of the developmental strengths of juvenile offenders.
Abstract
Data analysis was confined to the Life-Skills Development Scale-Juvenile Form (LSDS-JF), a brief self-report instrument for assessing the life-skills development of juvenile offenders, and the Behavior Assessment System for Children. Study participants were 75 youths aged 12- to 17-years-old from an all-male detention center. Findings confirmed that the LSDS-JF provided a means for assessing life-skills in juvenile offenders by professionals involved in their rehabilitation. The comprehensiveness and brevity of the scale made it ideal for use in juvenile detention facilities, group homes, and residential treatment programs as a starting point in designing individualized training plans with that population. The study recommended further research to explore the psychometric properties of the LSDS-JF, to compare juvenile offenders' scores on the scale with a sample of same-age peers in a regular school setting, and to validate the instrument's usefulness with females. Table, references