International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology -

This study modifies a risk assessment intended for juvenile youth (Global Risk Assessment Device, or GRAD) and tests the assessment for youthful offenders, aged 18-25. By testing this risk assessment for 895 youthful male offenders, this study suggests the modified GRAD assessment could be given to youthful offenders in an adult correctional setting because it is invariable across race and age. The authors acknowledge that this is only the first step of research, and that the GRAD assessment will need to be examined longer term, and with female youth offenders.

Cheri Shapiro is the Director for the Institute for Families in Society at the University of South Carolina. Patrick Malone is a Senior Research Scientist in the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University and adjunct research staff at RAND Corporation. Stephen Gavazzi is a Professor for the Department of Human Services at Ohio State University.

READ ARTICLE

^{Keywords: Risk assessment, GRAD, youthful offenders, juvenile, 18 - 25, adult corrections, measurement}