title: Level of functioning and recidivism risk among adolescent offenders.
abstract: The assessment of offending youth is important in determining the most appropriate disposition for adolescents involved in the justice system. Recent studies have found a relationship between justice system involvement and level-of-functioning (LOF). This study investigated the relationship between LOF and recidivism risk among adolescents involved in a community-based, juvenile justice treatment program. The results document that conceptually similar domains are substantively correlated; however, a range of functioning was found among youth considered to have the same risk of recidivism. Overall, the results suggest that LOF measures may be associated with risk measures due to a convergence of areas assessed and that the two constructs also may have a relationship analogous to LOF and clinical diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University-Stark, 6000 Frank Avenue N.W., Canton, Ohio 44720, USA. bshepherd@stark.kent.edu
authors.forename: J Brad
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Edward O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Omobien
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods; D003416:Criminal Law / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors