Contemporary Risk Assessment Tools: Should We Use Them for Sexually Abusive Children Ages 4 to 12 Years?

Cardinal Principles to Consider: The Rationale for Implementing Therapeutic Jurisprudence with Youth Manifesting Sexually Abusive Behaviors

This article brings attention to cardinal principles to consider when implementing the Therapeutic Jurisprudence multidisciplinary approach with youth who are manifesting sustained coarse sexual improprieties and come to the attention of the judicial system. The obstacles of implementing therapeutic jurisprudence with this population include the persistent reliance of researchers on adult paradigms for risk assessment tools, along with treatment models that are not developmentally and gender sensitive, nor empirically supported for youth. Adherence to the scientific method is essential when constructing risk assessment tools that meet forensic standards. Applying the rich collateral paradigm of therapeutic jurisprudence within the context of valid and reliable measurements of intervention outcomes would immensely benefit those youth entangled with judicial systems who repeatedly are victims of abuse (neglect, maltreatment, physical and/or sexual). Youth who become entangled with the judicial system as dependents, and/or suspected or charged with criminal activity, need additional collateral resources geared toward ongoing developmental needs and specific to gender. Practical considerations and recommendations are made in contemplating expanding Therapeutic Jurisprudence with youth who engage in sustained sexually harmful behaviors to self and others.

An Exploration of Racial Differences Among Male Youth Adjudicated for Sexual Offenses

In 2019, the male adjudicated youth (AY) population in correctional facilities was 33% White and 67% minority. Yet, the distribution among male AY charged with sexual offenses (AYSOs) was 55% White and 45% minority, highlighting the lack of disproportionate minority contact within the AYSO population. Little research on AYSOs has focused explicitly on exploring racial differences within this population. Using secondary data from 720 AY 11-18 years of age, the goal of this exploratory study was to identify differences in length of detention, presence of clinical syndromes, attachment patterns, and childhood trauma experiences among a sample of AYSOs and AYs by race category. Although few racial differences were identified among AYSOs, study results overwhelmingly highlighted differences between AYSOs and AYs.

Setting the Record Straight Regarding Tools That Assess Risk for Youth with Sexually Abusive Behavior

This critique alerts practicing professionals of the multiple misleading statements in the recently published article entitled, "A compendium of risk and needs tools for assessing male youths at-risk to and/or who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviors." This critique corrects the erroneous information contained in Jung and Thomas' article, providing current accurate information related to the important distinct differences of available standardized risk assessment tools used in forensic settings with youths who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviors. Erroneous statements by other researchers and authors in the field are also discussed. Forensic cases are distinctively different from others seen in clinical settings, requiring specific knowledge and skill set, a notable distinction not often mentioned in research literature.

A Compendium of Risk and Needs Tools for Assessing Male Youths At-Risk to and/or Who Have Engaged in Sexually Abusive Behaviors

Using a standardized, validated risk assessment tool is an integral part of risk management and should be employed to evaluate a youth who is at risk to and/or has engaged in sexually abusive behaviors. Risk and needs tools are needed to inform critical decisions about the allocation of services and the areas that should be targeted in treatment and supervision. Although practitioners have a number of published tools to their avail, it is often less practical to discover the type of tool, where to access the tool, information regarding its psychometric properties, and how to access relevant training. This paper offers a brief compendium of youth-applied risk tools specific to male youths who are at risk to and/or who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviors; specifically, a description of the tool and its psychometric properties, along with where practitioners may access these tools and any relevant training in using these tools, are summarized. In light of the challenges that exist when assessing risk among youths, caveats and considerations are also explored.

MEGA♪ Tool: An Analysis of "Risk/Treatment Needs and Progress Protocol" by Kang, Beltrani, Manheim, Spriggs, Nishimura, Sinclair, Stachniuk, Pate, Righthand, Prentky, and Worling (2019)

A new risk/treatment needs protocol for assessing "juveniles with sex offenses" operationalized in the Treatment Needs and Progress Scale (TNPS) was recently introduced, prompting quick embrace before any serious examination. This article critiques the proposed protocol and TNPS. Highlighted are misleading statements, substantial omissions related to review of research, and significant margins of TNPS underpinnings that cause considerable pause. Target population, essential to adopting and implementing TNPS, is not clearly stated. Multiple basic rudimentary steps are missing in the research protocol for two age groups. The "new" protocol appears to be a re-installment of the old one, applying templates from adult tools and empirical findings on adults to adolescents, thus treating youth like adults, an outdated stance in contemporary research and clinical practice related to risk assessment of sexually abusive youth..