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1

Rombouts, Sacha, and n/a. "Development of a Risk Assessment Checklist for Juvenile Sexual Offenders: a Meta-Analytic Approach." Griffith University. School of Psychology, 2006. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20070123.151237.

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Over the last decade there has been a substantial research effort directed toward understanding recidivism and risk prediction among adult sex offenders. In contrast, the juvenile sex offender field has received much less empirical attention. Consequently, there are very few risk assessment instruments designed for use with young persons who have committed sexual offences. Available measures do not appear to take into account the higher rates of non-sexual recidivism typical of this population. This thesis aimed to identify risk factors for sexual and non-sexual recidivism among juvenile sex offenders (JSOs) and explore their utility in the context of a risk assessment instrument. In Study One, a meta-analysis was conducted on JSO research to examine risk factors for sexual recidivism. The meta-analysis involved 17 studies and 22 predictor constructs. Seven variables emerged as reliable predictors of sexual recidivism: an index sexual offence involving a stranger victim, a history of physical abuse in the offender's background, the presence of sexual deviance, a non-contact index sexual offence, sexually offending against a greater number of victims, a history of sexual offending, and a history of non-sexual offending. In Study Two, a meta-analysis was performed on JSO research to identify risk factors for non-sexual recidivism. The meta-analysis involved 14 studies and 19 predictor constructs. Six variables emerged as reliable predictors of non-sexual recidivism: a history of non-sexual offending, a history of sexual abuse (negative relationship), the presence of an antisocial orientation, an index sexual offence involving a child victim (negative relationship), a history of physical abuse in the offender's background, and the use of threats/force in the index sexual offence. Taken together, the two meta-analyses were able to identify risk factors specific to sexual recidivism (e.g., sexual deviance) and non-sexual recidivism (e.g., antisocial orientation) as well as risk factors common to both outcomes (e.g., a history of non-sexual offending). These studies therefore made an original and significant contribution to the understanding of recidivism among JSOs. Based upon the meta-analyses, Study Three involved the construction of a risk assessment checklist that could be easily scored from file information. The Juvenile Risk Assessment Checklist (J-RAC) contained 11 items based upon the most consistent operationalisations of the predictors that emerged from the meta-analyses. The J-RAC is unique in the JSO risk assessment field as it contains two scales designed to provide separate estimates of the risk of youth engaging in further sexual and non-sexual recidivism, respectively. The J-RAC was scored based on file information from 82 youth who had been found guilty of sexual offences and referred to a treatment service in Queensland, Australia. The majority of the items possessed good inter-rater reliabilities and the two scales both possessed high inter-rater reliabilities. An existing JSO risk assessment instrument, the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol Version 2 (J-SOAP-II; Prentky & Righthand, 2003), was also administered and the J-RAC possessed significant correlations with the majority of the J-SOAP-II scales. The J-RAC was also found to significantly discriminate between juveniles in detention and juveniles in the community, with those in detention found to be at higher risk on both scales. Thus, the reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the J-RAC was established. Consistent with current adult sex offender recidivism theory, the findings demonstrated the distinct roles of sexual deviance and antisocial orientation in the prediction of sexual and non-sexual recidivism of JSOs, respectively. The current thesis goes some way towards advancing a theory of juvenile sex offender recidivism by drawing upon the variables that emerged as reliable risk factors in the two meta-analyses. While the J-RAC could not yet be considered an actuarial instrument capable of assigning low, medium and high risk levels, the results of the research conducted in this thesis are encouraging. The utility of the J-RAC may be further enhanced through the aid of prospective research that incorporates substantial numbers of juvenile recidivists.
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2

Rombouts, Sacha. "Development of a Risk Assessment Checklist for Juvenile Sexual Offenders: a Meta-Analytic Approach." Thesis, Griffith University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/365598.

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Over the last decade there has been a substantial research effort directed toward understanding recidivism and risk prediction among adult sex offenders. In contrast, the juvenile sex offender field has received much less empirical attention. Consequently, there are very few risk assessment instruments designed for use with young persons who have committed sexual offences. Available measures do not appear to take into account the higher rates of non-sexual recidivism typical of this population. This thesis aimed to identify risk factors for sexual and non-sexual recidivism among juvenile sex offenders (JSOs) and explore their utility in the context of a risk assessment instrument. In Study One, a meta-analysis was conducted on JSO research to examine risk factors for sexual recidivism. The meta-analysis involved 17 studies and 22 predictor constructs. Seven variables emerged as reliable predictors of sexual recidivism: an index sexual offence involving a stranger victim, a history of physical abuse in the offender's background, the presence of sexual deviance, a non-contact index sexual offence, sexually offending against a greater number of victims, a history of sexual offending, and a history of non-sexual offending. In Study Two, a meta-analysis was performed on JSO research to identify risk factors for non-sexual recidivism. The meta-analysis involved 14 studies and 19 predictor constructs. Six variables emerged as reliable predictors of non-sexual recidivism: a history of non-sexual offending, a history of sexual abuse (negative relationship), the presence of an antisocial orientation, an index sexual offence involving a child victim (negative relationship), a history of physical abuse in the offender's background, and the use of threats/force in the index sexual offence. Taken together, the two meta-analyses were able to identify risk factors specific to sexual recidivism (e.g., sexual deviance) and non-sexual recidivism (e.g., antisocial orientation) as well as risk factors common to both outcomes (e.g., a history of non-sexual offending). These studies therefore made an original and significant contribution to the understanding of recidivism among JSOs. Based upon the meta-analyses, Study Three involved the construction of a risk assessment checklist that could be easily scored from file information. The Juvenile Risk Assessment Checklist (J-RAC) contained 11 items based upon the most consistent operationalisations of the predictors that emerged from the meta-analyses. The J-RAC is unique in the JSO risk assessment field as it contains two scales designed to provide separate estimates of the risk of youth engaging in further sexual and non-sexual recidivism, respectively. The J-RAC was scored based on file information from 82 youth who had been found guilty of sexual offences and referred to a treatment service in Queensland, Australia. The majority of the items possessed good inter-rater reliabilities and the two scales both possessed high inter-rater reliabilities. An existing JSO risk assessment instrument, the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol Version 2 (J-SOAP-II; Prentky & Righthand, 2003), was also administered and the J-RAC possessed significant correlations with the majority of the J-SOAP-II scales. The J-RAC was also found to significantly discriminate between juveniles in detention and juveniles in the community, with those in detention found to be at higher risk on both scales. Thus, the reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the J-RAC was established. Consistent with current adult sex offender recidivism theory, the findings demonstrated the distinct roles of sexual deviance and antisocial orientation in the prediction of sexual and non-sexual recidivism of JSOs, respectively. The current thesis goes some way towards advancing a theory of juvenile sex offender recidivism by drawing upon the variables that emerged as reliable risk factors in the two meta-analyses. While the J-RAC could not yet be considered an actuarial instrument capable of assigning low, medium and high risk levels, the results of the research conducted in this thesis are encouraging. The utility of the J-RAC may be further enhanced through the aid of prospective research that incorporates substantial numbers of juvenile recidivists.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Psychology
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3

Hersant, Jamie L. "Risk assessment of juvenile sex offender reoffense /." Available to subscribers only, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1208144681&sid=8&Fmt=2&clientId=1509&RQT=309&VName=PQD.

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4

Schneider, Jessica P. "Validation of Virginia's Juvenile Risk Assessment Instrument." VCU Scholars Compass, 2018. https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/5634.

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Utilizing a validated risk assessment tool to predict future offending is recommended as best practices in corrections by a number of professional organizations (Latessa & Lovins, 2010). Guided by the risk-needs-responsivity model, risk assessment tools have evolved to help inform criminal justice practitioners by identifying offenders most in need of intervention or supervision, guiding the case plan to optimize outcomes (Bonta & Andrews, 2007). The Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) utilizes the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI) at all stages of contact with youthful offenders, including intake, probation, commitment, and parole (DJJ, 2016). However, risk assessment instruments do not always generalize across populations (Schwalbe, 2007) and are not always used effectively for case planning decisions (Singh et al., 2014). This study focused on the accuracy, equity, and usage of YASI in the Virginia juvenile justice system. Findings suggested that YASI performed at the expected and adequate levels of predictive validity in comparison to existing research. The predictive validity of the overall and dynamic risk scores and levels was statistically equivalent for males and females, but the Community/Peers and Family domains had stronger predictive validity for males than females. The predictive validity was statistically equivalent for White and Black youth for overall risk levels and dynamic risk scores and levels; however, the predictive validity for the overall risk scores was higher for White youth than Black youth. Each domain had a positive correlation between risk and assignment as a case planning priority area with a wide variation in the strength of correlation. Future research should focus on instrumental validity, protective factors, inter-rater reliability, domain interactions and clusters, reoffense types and timing, additional group and geographical differences, weighting and scoring, service matching, recidivism reduction, and program evaluations. Policy recommendations regarding risk assessment use in juvenile justice systems include a repeated cycle of determining purpose and function, conducting staff and stakeholder training, testing, and calibrating and modifying the tool.
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5

Russell, Christiana Modupe. "Educational risk and recidivism an exploratory analysis of court involved youth /." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1149100473.

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6

Ralston, Christopher Allen. "Validation of the Juvenile Sexual Offense Recidivism Risk Assessment Tool--II." [Ames, Iowa : Iowa State University], 2008.

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7

Shreve, Tayler N. "The Role of Race/Ethnicity and Risk Assessment on Juvenile Case Outcomes." Scholar Commons, 2018. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7572.

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Guided by traditional and micro-level theories, the present study seeks to identify the relationship between race/ethnicity and risk factors in the Florida juvenile justice system. Central to this explanation is the understanding that racial biases and stereotypes have been shown to influence the decision-making of probation officers. The objectives are to examine the extent that race and risk factors influence court outcomes, in addition to the extent to which individual level risk factors influence court outcomes. The results provide insight into the relationship between the influence of racial biases and stereotypes of probation officers and juvenile risk assessment scoring.
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8

Van, Drie Barbara G. "Efficacy of Juvenile Offender Assessments: Utilization of Recommendations, Measurement Constructs, and Risk Factors." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2002. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3200/.

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The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of juvenile offender assessments. Data from 104 juvenile offender assessments were analyzed and followed up with placement, subsequent offending, and outcome data from the juvenile and adult systems. Constructs consistently assessed included intellectual functioning, academic achievement, and personality functioning; however, under-diagnosis of intellectual deficits, learning disabilities, and personality disorders was found. Results indicated the assessment of family functioning, substance use, and social functioning should be included in comprehensive assessments, as they may result in alternative placement and treatment options of benefit to the juvenile offender. A juvenile offender typology proposed by DiCataldo and Grisso (1995) was successfully utilized and proved predictive of recidivism, future harm to others, and outcome.
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9

McCafferty, James T. "The Predictive Validity of the Ohio Youth Assessment System-Disposition Instrument: A Revalidation Study." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1384334038.

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10

Herrenkohl, Todd Ian. "An examination of neighborhood context and risk for youth violence /." Thesis, Connect to this title online; UW restricted, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1773/11190.

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Gottlieb, Katherine A. "Assessing Risk in Adolescent Offenders: A Comparison of Risk Profiles versus Summed Risk Factors." ScholarWorks@UNO, 2013. http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1739.

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Research supports interventions for high-risk juvenile offenders to reduce recidivism. Methods for assessing delinquent risk vary, however. Aggregate risk scores (i.e. number of risk factors) and specific risk profiles (i.e. types of risk factors) are both empirically supported techniques. This study compared aggregate scores versus profiles for predicting measures of criminal severity among detained adolescents (n=292). Twenty-four risk factors from the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) were summed to calculate aggregate scores. Using latent class analysis (LCA), profiles were identified based on scores from the following theoretically important SAVRY risk factors: Risk Taking/Impulsivity, Anger Management Problems, Low Empathy/Remorse (CU traits), and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Difficulties. LCA identified one low-risk profile, plus two high-risk profiles differentiated by levels of CU traits. Aggregate scores significantly predicted four out of six criminal severity indicators, while profiles failed to predict any measures. Results support aggregate scores over profiles for assessing delinquent severity.
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Cundiff, Stephen J. "Screening Evaluation of Risk Assessment Tools that Assist in Exposure Assessment and Prioritization of Hazards in a Chemical Manufacturing Facility." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1479820603595661.

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13

Martin, Mary A. "Predicting institutional behavior in youthful offenders: The role of individual and family factors in risk assessment." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2003. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4196/.

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A vigorous debate persists in the literature about the efficacy of clinical judgment and actuarial models of risk assessment. This study was designed to augment those commonly used methods by integrating a variety of factors that produce risk and protective effects among 101 youthful offenders. Adolescents and young adults in a maximum-security facility were interviewed with the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV), and completed self-reports of psychopathy, impulsivity, and perceived parental care and protection. This selection of empirically-supported predictors was enhanced by criminal history and family information obtained through extensive file review. Markedly different prediction models emerged based on age. ADHD and PCL Factor 2 predicted adolescents' institutional maladjustment. In contrast, young adults' institutional behavior was influenced by impulsivity, family substance abuse, and gang membership. Treatment progress also differed depending on age; the absence of certain risk factors predicted success for adolescents, while academic achievement and intelligence facilitated young adults' advancement. Importantly, support was demonstrated for the moderating effects of protective factors on violence. Finally, the predictive validity of newly-developed psychopathy self-reports was examined in relation to the PCL:YV. Both the SALE PS-24 and the APSD were modestly effective at differentiating between high and low levels of psychopathy.
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Sousa, Emanuel Moniz. "Desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta de avaliação do risco para estabelecimentos de restauração." Master's thesis, ISA, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/6674.

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Mestrado em Engenharia Alimentar - Qualidade e Segurança Alimentar - Instituto Superior de Agronomia
This study aimed to obtain a risk assessment tool, for services, quick to apply, analyze, and allowed to establish, by based way, the frequency of supervision actions by the responsible entity, allowing a greater action of the entities nearest the establishments whose risk is higher depending on the classification obtained in the end. Thus, developed a checklist that the result is crossed with the estimated risk for the activity in order to obtain the level of risk of the establishment and therefore the periodicity proper for the inspections. Results are introduced through a summary table and a radar chart, thereby facilitating analysis. Tool was tested in three food services, and proved to be effective because it was quick to apply and get the whole reality of the establishment. In general, the three food services obtained a good rating, and the higher risk nonconformities detected were the absence of any documentation associated with the process control in the unit A, some flaws in the physical facilities of the unit B and the absence of integrated pest control in the unit C.
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15

Papp, Jordan. "Discretionary Influence on Objective Measurement: An Examination of the Predictors and Effects of Overrides in Juvenile Risk Assessment." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1573575214143986.

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16

McGuinn, Catherine Palumbo. "An Assessment of a Vocational Horticulture Training Curriculum at a School for Juvenile Offenders." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/31603.

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A vocational horticulture curriculum was assessed for its effectiveness in strengthening social bonds and changing attitudes about personal success and job preparedness in a group of juvenile offenders. The curriculum focused on vocational training and entry-level job skills in horticulture and landscaping and prepared the youth for internship positions in grounds maintenance. Pre/post-tests based on Hirsch=s tests of social bond for juvenile delinquents were developed to address attitudes toward school, teachers, peers, opinions on personal success, and environmental attitudes. A separate pre/post test dealt with careers and aspirations. Results from these tests were compared to tests administered at a comparable program in an urban setting. Behavioral records for one semester before and the semester during the horticulture curriculum were compared. Daily journals maintained by service-learning student mentors were analyzed for observational themes, as were teachersâ observations and project follow-up interviews. Success of the program was based on the studentsâ successful completion of the program, studentsâ desire and ability to be hired for summer internships and/or employment in horticultural related jobs. Due to the limited size of the study group (6), this research project intends only to provide a profile of several youthsâ response to vocational horticultural training with regard to the objectives stated above. It is exploratory in nature and offers ideas for future larger scale research and confirms some existing trends in research with juvenile offenders.
Master of Science
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17

Simpson, Tiffany. "Do Objective Measures reduce the Disproportionate Rates of Minority Youth Placed in Detention: Validation of a Risk Assessment Instrument?" ScholarWorks@UNO, 2010. http://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1117.

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The overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system, often referred to as disproportionate minority contact (DMC) can be found at many stages of the juvenile justice continuum. Further, research has shown that overrepresentation is not necessarily related to higher rates of criminal activity and suggests that case processing disparities can contribute to DMC. Risk assessment instruments (RAI) are objective techniques used to make decisions about youth in the juvenile justice system. This study examined the effects of implementing an RAI designed to make detention decisions, in a predominantly rural parish in Louisiana. Police officers from three law enforcement agencies investigated 202 cases during the evaluation period. The measures included an objective detention risk screening instrument, a contact form which contained juvenile demographic information, a two-item questionnaire assessing law enforcement's impression of the youth's need for detention placement and risk to public safety, and an arrest coding sheet which assessed subsequent police contacts and arrests among youth over 3 and 6 months of street time (i.e., time outside of secure confinement). Results revealed that overall law enforcement was unwilling to consistently complete the tool and continued to use subjective decision making, with completion rates ranging from 61% to 97% across the participating agencies. Also, subjective decision making by law enforcement actually helped minority youth as law enforcement consistently disregarded formal overrides included in the RAI, resulting in fewer minority youth being detained than were indicated by the RAI. Further, implementation of the tool, as constructed, resulted in small but insignificant reductions in the rates of overall confinement and rates of minority confinement when compared to the rates of confinement during the same time period of the previous year. Additionally, the RAI did not significantly predict future police contact due to items that did not predict recidivism in this sample. Use of a three-item version resulted in a significant increase in the tool's predictive ability. This study demonstrates the importance of additional validity testing following the implementation of detention risk assessment instruments to ensure that these tools reduce unnecessary confinement while protecting public safety.
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18

Takahashi, Masaru. "PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF THE YOUTH LEVEL OF SERVICE/CASE MANAGEMENT INVENTORY AMONG JAPANESE JUVENILE OFFENDERS." OpenSIUC, 2010. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/318.

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The main purpose of the present study is to examine the predictive validity of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) to Japanese juvenile offender population. Three hundred and eighty-nine juveniles who were released from the five Juvenile Classification Homes (JCHs) were followed for more than one year on average. Results demonstrate that those who show higher score on the YLS/CMI are more likely to recidivate than those who are not. A total score of the YLS/CMI also significantly contributes to predict faster time to recidivate. Furthermore, the superiority of actuarial risk measures over clinical risk judgment is confirmed. The overall findings support the applicability of the YLS/CMI among Japanese juvenile offenders. Practical implications and limitations to the current study are also discussed.
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19

Onifade, Eyitayo. "Risk assessment toward valid and accurate delinquency predictions with African-Americans and girls /." Diss., Connect to online resource - MSU authorized users, 2008.

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20

Rehnvall, Malin, and Johanna Strand. "Professionellas uppfattning om användbarheten av en checklista (Check: IRK) för initial riskbedömning av riskfaktorer för kriminalitet." Thesis, Örebro universitet, Institutionen för juridik, psykologi och socialt arbete, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-42718.

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Check: IRK (Initial Riskbedömning för Kriminalitet) är en nyutvecklad evidensbaserad checklista tänkt att användas av professionella i initiala bedömningar för att identifiera riskfaktorer för kriminalitet hos ungdomar och vuxna med risk för långvarigt kriminellt beteende. Syftet med vår studie var att i en första pilottestning ta reda på hur professionella inom polis och socialtjänst uppfattar användbarheten av Check: IRK. Via en webbenkätundersökning besvarade 21 respondenter, varav 6 män och 15 kvinnor mellan 26-47 år (M=36 år, SD=6,70) på frågor gällande innehåll, tillämpning och utbildning i Check: IRK. Studiens data analyserades med Z-test och resultaten indikerar att utifrån innehåll, tillämpning och utbildning i checklistan så uppfattar professionella inom polis och socialtjänst Check: IRK som användbar i sitt arbete.
Check: IRK is a newly developed evidence-based checklist designed to be used by professionals in the initial assessment to identify risk factors for criminality in adolescents and adults at risk of long-term criminal behavior. The current pilot study investigated how professionals within the police and social services perceived the usefulness of Check: IRK. Through a web survey 21 respondents including 6 men and 15 women between the age of 26-47 years (M=36 years, SD=6,70) answered questions regarding the content, implementation and training of the Check: IRK. Data were analyzed using Z-test and the results indicated that professionals within the police and social services find the Check: IRK to be useful in their daily work.
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21

Zimmerman, Lora Leigh. "Propagation of Juvenile Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and Assessment of Habitat Suitability for Restoration of Mussels in the Clinch River, Virginia." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/10055.

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Freshwater mussel propagation techniques were tested at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center through a series of three experiments. Experiment 1 tested the suitability of a pond and raceway for rearing juvenile oystermussels (Epioblasma capsaeformis) and wavyrayed lampmussel (Lampsilis fasciola). This experiment was prematurely terminated due to predation on mussels by fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Experiment 2 evaluated growth and survival of juvenile rainbow mussels in outdoor troughs and indoor aquaria. There was no significant difference in survival or growth between the two systems. Experiment 3 used troughs similar to those in Experiment 2 to rear E. capsaeformis and L. fasciola under two silt regimes. Survival for Experiment 3 was significantly greater for L. fasciola. The comparison between silt regimes indicated that individuals in the high-silt treatment had better survival than those in the low-silt treatment. The difference between these 2 treatments may be a reflection of increased escapement in the low-silt treatment, which may have resulted from more frequent disturbance during sampling. Growth of L. fasciola was significantly greater than E. capsaeformis, and was greater in the low-silt treatment. A habitat survey of the Clinch River, Virginia was conducted from Blackford, Clinch River Kilometer (CRK) 478 to the Tennessee border, CRK 325. Physical characteristics identified in the survey were combined with water quality and impact source data to develop a habitat suitability index for freshwater mussels within this study reach. Model parameters were indexed and weighted to give a final suitability ranking. Habitat units having the highest overall ranking included: Nash Ford (CRK 449), Artrip (CRK 442), several riffles and runs below Carterton (CRK 417), upstream of Mill Island (CRK 389.5), and Pendleton Island (CRK 365), and Speers Ferry (CRK 333-325). Potential locations for habitat restoration projects and additional monitoring were also identified.
Master of Science
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22

Enebrink, Pia. "Antisocial behaviour in clinically referred boys : early identification and assessment procedures in child psychiatry /." Stockholm, 2005. http://diss.kib.ki.se/2005/91-7140-268-3/.

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23

Freimuth, Tabatha. "High risk sexual offenders : the association between sexual paraphilias, fantasies and psychopathy." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/2806.

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High risk offenders are a complex and heterogeneous group of offenders about whom researchers, clinicians, and society still know relatively little. In response to the paucity of information that is specifically applicable to high risk offenders, the present study examined RCMP Integrated Sexual Predator Intelligence Network (ISPIN) data to investigate the relationship between sexual paraphilias, sexual fantasy, and psychopathy among 139 of the highest risk sexual offenders in British Columbia. The sample included 41 child molesters, 42 rapists, 18 rapist/molesters, 30 mixed offenders, and 6 “other” sexual offenders. The majority of offenders in this sample were diagnosed with one primary paraphilia (67%). Data analysis revealed significant differences between offender types for criminal history variables including past sexual and nonsexual convictions, number of victims, and age of offending onset. For example, offenders who victimized children (i.e., exclusive child molesters & rapist/molesters) had a greater number of past sexual convictions than did offenders who victimized adults exclusively. Further, there were significant differences between offender types for paraphilia diagnoses, sexual fantasy themes, and levels of psychopathy. For example, exclusive child molesters were significantly more likely to receive a paraphilia diagnosis, were more likely to report having sexual fantasies, and had lower Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) scores than other offender types. Results from the current study will serve to facilitate a more refined and informed understanding of sexual offending behaviour, with important implications for future research, assessment, and treatment issues, as well as law enforcement practices when working with high risk sexual offenders.
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24

Martin, Julie H. "Predicting Risk to Reoffend: Establishing the Validity of the Postive Achievement Change Tool." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2012. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/5422.

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In recent years, there has been increased reliance on the use of risk assessment in the juvenile justice system to predict and classify offenders based on their risk to reoffend. Over the years, the predictive validity of risk assessments has improved through the inclusion of actuarial assessment and dynamic risk factors. The predictive validity of certain assessments, such as the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), has been well established through numerous replication studies on different subgroups of the population. The validity of other instruments, such as the Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT), is in its infancy having only been validated on the sample of the population for which it was created. The PACT, a relatively new juvenile risk assessment tool, was adapted from the Washington State Juvenile Court Assessment and validated on the Florida juvenile population. This study sought to demonstrate the predictive validity of the PACT risk assessment, analyze gender differences in juvenile recidivism, and determine the relative importance of individual-level, social-level, and community-level variables in the prediction of recidivism for a sample of juveniles in Tarrant County, Texas. The results of this research confirmed the predictive validity of the PACT for juveniles served by Tarrant County Juvenile Services (TCJS). Despite possessing adequate predictive validity for the entire population, gender-specific analyses revealed differences in the ability of the PACT to accurately classify female delinquents based on risk to reoffend. Not only did gender differences emerge in the predictive validity of the PACT, but males and female recidivism was also predicted by different social-level indicators. The results of this research provided further evidence for social-causation theories of crime and delinquency, with social-level indicators exerting the strongest relationship with recidivism when compared to individual-level and community-level predictors. The inability of community-level predictors to enhance the predictive accuracy of the assessment suggest broad application of the PACT across jurisdictions. TCJS has invested a considerable amount of time, resources, and funding in the implementation and maintenance of the PACT. The results of this study provided support and direction for the continued use of the PACT at TCJS. In addition, establishing the predictive validity of the PACT on the Tarrant County juvenile population satisfied the legislative requirement for a population specific validation of the risk assessment implemented in each county.
ID: 031001386; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Adviser: Thomas T. H. Wan.; Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2012.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-109).
Ph.D.
Doctorate
Health and Public Affairs
Public Affairs
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25

Fukutomi, Eriko. "Relationships between each category of 25-item frailty risk assessment (Kihon Checklist) and newly certified elderly under Long Term care Insurance: a 24-month follow up study in a rural community in Japan." 京都大学 (Kyoto University), 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/195973.

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26

Ginner, Hau Hanna. "Swedish young offenders in community-based rehabilitative programmes : Patterns of antisocial behaviour, mental health, and recidivism." Doctoral thesis, Stockholms universitet, Psykologiska institutionen, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-42465.

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The overall aim of this thesis was to explore patterns of antisocial behaviour, mental health and recidivism among Swedish young offenders in community-based rehabilitative programmes (n=189). Study I explored the character and severity of self-reported behavioural problems prior to programme participation.  Four distinct subgroups were identified: subgroup (SG) 1 (n=60), boys exhibiting adolescent delinquency; SG 2 (n=65), boys exhibi­ting pronounced adolescent delinquency; SG 3 (n=48), boys exhibiting pronounced adolescent delinquency as well as criminality including violence; SG 4 (n=16), boys exhibiting pronounced adolescent delinquency as well as criminality including violence and drug-related crimes. Study II investigated the mental health of the participants, by means of the Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ). When relating SDQ-scores to the previously identified subgroups, SG 1 with the least prominent history of antisocial behaviour was found to resemble a normative sample, while the subgroups with more extensive histories of antisocial behaviour had significantly elevated scores on the hyperactivity/inattention and conduct problem scales. Study III investigated recidivism in criminality in the 18-months following programme start, finding that 60% of the participants had been registered as suspected of new crimes. SG 3 and 4 with the most extensive histories of antisocial behaviour were responsible for a significantly larger part of recidivism than expected. By contrast, SG 1, reporting the least antisocial behaviour in their past, was responsible for a significantly smaller part of the recidivism. This was true for all crimes as well as crimes of violence specifically, confirming the subgroups identified based on the self-reports. The results are related to developmental theories of antisocial behaviour and to contemporary research on risk assessment. Implications for the practice of rehabilitation of convicted young offenders are discussed.
At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: In press Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 3: Submitted.
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27

Weerakoon, Ruwan P. "Investigating opportunities for improving sustainability outcomes in post disaster road infrastructure recovery projects." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2016. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/102052/1/Ruwan_Weerakoon_Thesis.pdf.

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The research developed a sustainability assessment checklist for improving sustainability outcomes in post-disaster infrastructure recovery projects. The social, economic, environmental sustainability, and engineering and governance were the key elements. This research analysed three case studies and their existing disaster recovery strategies that were implemented to rebuild infrastructures damaged by natural disasters. The research sought to develop a comprehensive triple bottom line sustainability assessment checklist for post-disaster management in road infrastructure.
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28

Flores, Anthony W. "Examining the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory in the Context of Reliability, Validity, Equity, and Utility: A Six-Year Evaluation." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1380612886.

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29

Schoenfeld, Tara McKenzie. "Risky business: a regional comparison of the levels of risk and service needs of sexually offending youth." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/3097.

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Considerable attention has focussed on identifying individual factors associated with, or predictive of, sexual offending (e.g., Efta-Breitbach & Freeman, 2004). In light of these individual factors, clinicians and researchers have developed standardized instruments for assessing the risk posed by sexually offending youth. Two such instruments are the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II (J-SOAP-II; Prentky & Righthand, 2003) and the Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offence Recidivism Version 2.0 (ERASOR-II; Worling & Curwen, 2001). In addition to individual factors, research on crime has demonstrated that structural factors within the community may be important determinants of sexual and non-sexual offending (e.g., McCarthy, 1991; Ouimet, 1999; Shaw & McKay, 1942; Wirth, 1938). Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to compare the psychometric properties of two newly developed risk assessment instruments (i.e., J-SOAP-II and ERASOR-II) and (b) to use the better instrument to compare the levels of risk posed by sexually offending youth in 3 neighbouring, but diverse communities. Using file information, the J-SOAP-II and ERASOR-II were scored on 84 adolescent males between the ages of 11 and 20 years who had committed a sexual offence and received treatment at Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services (YFPS) in the Greater Vancouver Area (GVA; n = 30), Central Okanagan (CO; n = 26), and Thompson Nicola region (TN; n = 28). Calculations of interrater reliability and item-total correlations indicated that the J-SOAP-II was a better assessment instrument for this sample of offenders. Consequently, further regional analysis of risk was conducted using the J-SOAP-II data. Results indicated that although there were no regional differences among the severity and history of sexual offending, TN youth generally had a greater number of risk factors than did youth in CO and GVA. Specifically, youth in TN were found to be higher risk in the areas of intervention, general problem behaviour, iii and family/environment dynamics. These results suggest that to better understand youth who commit sexual offences and to provide appropriate prevention and intervention strategies for individual offenders and their communities, youth should not be evaluated in isolation from their social and community context. Recommendations for practice are discussed.
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30

Larsen, Anna. "Återanvändning av kemiska riskbedömningar : Förutsättningar, fördelar och svårigheter." Thesis, KTH, Ergonomi, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-262023.

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Kemiska arbetsmiljörisker förekommer inom ett flertal branscher och behöver förebyggas för att skydda arbetstagare mot ohälsa, sjukdom och olycksfall. Det förebyggande arbetet görs genom att identifierade risker bedöms och kontrolleras med ändamålsenliga åtgärder, med målet att riskerna minskar eller helt försvinner. Att genomföra kemiska riskbedömningar är dock ofta både svårt och komplext med många olika aspekter att beakta och kräver både tid och kunskap. Som ett sätt att förenkla och effektivisera processen kring kemisk riskbedömning önskar Skanska, ett företag inom bygg- och anläggningsbranschen, se över om det är möjligt att återanvända kemiska riskbedömningar. Syftet med detta examensarbete blev därmed att utreda möjligheten i återanvändning av redan genomförda kemiska riskbedömningar där de kemiska produkterna ska användas igen. Utredningen har fokuserat på fördelar, hinder eller svårigheter och förutsättningar för återanvändning. Europeiskt och svenskt regelverk och vetenskaplig litteratur har genomlysts och data har samlats in från intervjuer med olika nyckelpersoner på tre arbetsplatser inom Skanska samt utifrån riskbedömningar av några utsedda produkter. Resultatet har därefter jämförts med svenskt regelverk, för att därigenom dra slutsatser om möjligheten i återanvändning av kemiska riskbedömningar. Examensarbetet har resulterat i slutsatsen att återanvändning av kemiska riskbedömningar bör vara möjlig, under förutsättning att de mallar eller checklistor som används som stöd uppfyller de krav som finns för kemisk riskbedömning. Det behöver säkerställas genom ändamålsenliga rutiner av personal med rätt kompetens om kemiska arbetsmiljörisker. Det behöver också stämmas av att exempelvis arbetssätt, omgivning och tillgången av åtgärder är likvärdiga på den arbetsplats som först genomfört riskbedömningen, och den arbetsplats som därefter återanvänder riskbedömningen, eller att dessa faktorer kan bli likvärdiga genom vidtagna åtgärder. Några risker eller hinder för återanvändning har identifierats. En av de mest framträdande riskerna är att kemiska arbetsmiljörisker förbises i samband med återanvändningen och därigenom också de åtgärder som behöver vidtas. Orsaker till detta kan vara bristande kunskap och engagemang eller möjligen fusk och slarv. I situationer där arbete ska ske med farligare kemiska produkter kan det vara svårare med återanvändning av riskbedömningar. Några fördelar med återanvändning bedöms vara förkortad tidsåtgång för kemiska riskbedömningar, en effektivare hantering, samt ett ökat stöd och lärande om kemiska arbetsmiljörisker genom att man lär av varandra och tidigare riskbedömningar. Möjligen kan återanvändning också bidra till att fler riskbedömningar genomförs, för att därigenom trygga yrkesarbetarnas säkerhet och hälsa.
Chemical risks in the work environment occur in several industries, and need to be prevented to protect workers from ill-health, illness and accidents. By performing risk assessments and taking appropriate measures, it is possible to reach the goal to reduce or even eliminate chemical risks. However, performing chemical risk assessments is often a quite difficult and complex issue with several different aspects to consider, requiring both time and knowledge. As a way to simplify and streamline the process of chemical risk assessment, Skanska, a company within the construction industry, wants to investigate whether it is possible to reuse chemical risk assessments. The purpose of this thesis was thus to investigate the possibility of reusing already performed chemical risk assessments in situations where the chemical products will be used again. The investigation has focused on the advantages, obstacles or difficulties and prerequisites for reuse. European and Swedish regulations and scientific literature have been reviewed and data have been collected from interviews with managers, safety representatives and employees at three workplaces at Skanska and from performed risk assessments of some selected products. Thereafter, the results have been compared with Swedish regulations, in order to draw conclusions about the possibility of reusing chemical risk assessments. The conclusion is that it should be possible to reuse chemical risk assessments, provided that the templates or checklists used as a support meet the requirements for chemical risk assessments. This needs to be ensured through appropriate routines by personnel with the right expertise about chemical risks in the work environment. It must also be ensured that some factors, as way of working, the work environment and measures taken, need to be similar for the workplace first performing the risk assessment, and the workplace that will reuse the same risk assessment, or at least that these factors can become similar after measures taken. Some risks or obstacles of reusing chemical risk assessments have been identified. One of the most prominent risks is that chemical hazards will be missed and thereby also the measures that need to be taken. This may be due to lack of knowledge and commitment or possibly cheating or carelessness. In situations where more hazardous chemical products are being used, it may be more difficult to reuse risk assessments. Some benefits of reusing risk assessments may be less time required for chemical risk assessments, more efficient management and increased support and learning about chemical hazards by learning from each other and previous risk assessments. Possibly, reuse can also contribute to more risk assessments being carried out, thereby ensuring the safety and health of professional workers.
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31

Issa, Layla. "Development of an inspection checklist for risk assessment of bridges in New Jersey." 2008. http://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.17332.

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32

"Gender and Risk Assessment in Juvenile Offenders: A Meta-analysis." Master's thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.38408.

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abstract: Although young males are still the primary perpetrators of juvenile crime, girls are increasingly coming into contact with the criminal justice system. While girls may have different pathways to crime and risks for recidivism than boys, their risk to reoffend is typically assessed using a gender-neutral tool that is based on social learning theory: a theory originally developed and tested on males. With the appropriateness of using gender-neutral tools to assess female criminality coming into question, a number of researchers have searched for a resolution. To date, mixed findings on the predictive validity of risk assessment tools have not provided any definitive answers. To help assess the predictive validity of the Youth Level of Service Inventory, separate meta-analyses were conducted for male and female juvenile offenders using previous studies. The mean effect sizes were compared in order to determine whether the predictive validity is similar for both males and females. With the exception of violent recidivism, results indicate that the YLS/CMI works equally well for male and female offenders. The implications of these findings for theory, research, and correctional policy are discussed.
Dissertation/Thesis
Masters Thesis Criminology and Criminal Justice 2016
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33

Yap, Ming-Chu, and 葉明珠. "Develop a Quantifiable Checklist and Risk-based Assessment Tool for Food Additives Factory Auditing." Thesis, 2016. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/92418077392986935961.

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碩士
國立臺灣海洋大學
食品科學系
105
An operative checklist is fundamental for all food audit assignments of which tools for quantification and prioritization of the checked items in the list are the main focuses of this study. The checklist used for food additive factory audit in 2014 in New Taipei County was used as the template. A method by sequentiallyapplying, first, AHP ( Analytic Hierarchy Process ) to determined 2 levels of prioritized and quantified categories and items in the checklist. Further, the AHP model is repetitively sampled in @risk to verify its precision. And finally, together with the 2014 audit results, FMEA was adopted to validate the coherence of AHP model and the actual audit outcomes, from which the RPN ( Risk Priority Number ) were calculated for every individual item listed in the checklist. Results from expert questionnaire showed“employee management” had the highest weighed score (0.2727) among the 5first levels “auditcategory”, while “personal training”ranked the highest (0.0866) among the 29 secondary level“audit items”. For the 10 factories required mandated re-audit in 2014, they failed mostly in “employee management” and“processing environment” categories that were consistent with prioritized AHP model. Results from @Risk repetitive sampling confirmed a significant difference from the quantified highest weigh score. However, the ranking order among the 5 categories is the same as AHP model. When applying FMEA and RPN estimation, category “segregation among different processing areas” had the highest RPN score (420).That was followed by “employee management” and“processing environment”, scored 300 and 252, respectively. All these 3 categories were defined as minor risk based on their RPN scores. Develop risk assessment of food factory by three methods in this study can obtain priority weight of each hierarchical levels, most likely priority weight from @Risk and risk priority number of FMEA. The auditor and food industry can refer to the result for food factory management. In addition, these methods also can apply in different field include external audit, internal audit and assessment of production model.
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34

"ASSESSMENT OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON BIOAVAILABILITY FROM SOIL USING THE JUVENILE SWINE MODEL." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2016-01-2518.

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common soil contaminants due to their lipophilic nature which limits partitioning to water or air. Soil properties such as organic carbon can affect PAH release from soil, and thus affect PAH bioavailability of ingested soil. Risk assessment of PAHs in soil generally assumes equal bioavailability of PAHs ingested in soil compared to PAHs ingested in reference dose media, leading to environmental cleanup guidelines that are potentially too conservative. This research intended to use the juvenile swine model to assess PAH bioavailability from impacted soil to better inform bioavailability estimates for risk assessment. This was done by assessing PAH bioavailability from single and repeated exposure to PAHs in different spiked exposure media, assessing PAH bioavailability from soil collected from PAH impacted sites, and assessing biomarkers of exposure and effect following PAH exposure. The effect of exposure duration on bioavailability was assessed because people are usually chronically exposed to PAHs, rather than acutely exposed, as most bioavailability studies are performed, and chronic exposure may lead to increases in xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and transporters which may affect bioavailability. This research found that exposure duration did not significantly affect anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene bioavailability (p>0.075), but exposure media did (p<0.004). These results suggest that exposure medium has a more important effect on bioavailability than exposure duration, and also bioavailability calculated from a single exposure is appropriate for use in risk assessment. Bioavailability from 24 naturally impacted soils was assessed to determine which soil characteristics had the greatest effect on PAH bioavailability. Area under the curve (AUC) measurements for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and anthracene in swine blood after oral exposure from a soil matrix for benzo[a]pyrene and anthracene in soils had s very poor relationship with soil concentrations in soils collected from impacted sites (r2<0.15), but a very strong relationship with soil concentrations from spiked artificial soils (r2<0.95). As spiked soils had much higher concentrations of PAH, these results suggest there is a point of departure in soil concentrations where internal exposure becomes linearly related to soil concentration. Point of departure modeling indicates that this point occurs at soil PAH concentrations greater than 1,900 mg kg-1. Thus, risk assessment can assume a constant exposure to PAHs at soil concentrations lower than the point of departure. Comparison of terminal rate constants from intravenous (IV) exposure to PAHs and oral exposure to PAHs in a soilmatrix suggest that flip-flop kinetics occur in swine, where absorption occurs at a slower rate than elimination. Flip-flop kinetics likely explains the lack of relationship between real world soil concentrations and area under the curve measurements as absorption is the rate limiting step of elimination. Biomarkers of exposure and effect were assessed in swine liver and ileum tissue, as well as blood following single and subchronic exposure to PAHs to determine if relationships could be drawn between exposure magnitude and duration and biomarker formation. Biomarkers included cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A1, 1A2, and 1B1 expression and activity as biomarkers of exposure and DNA adducts, carbonylated proteins, and micronucleated reticulocytes as biomarkers of effect. Biomarkers of exposure were not affected by exposure magnitude or duration, indicating that they would serve best as exposure markers rather than indicators of bioavailability or other effects. However, DNA adduct and protein carbonyl formation was significantly affected by exposure duration (p<0.045), but micronuclei formation was not. The micronuclei results suggest the liver was effective at clearing PAHs to non-toxic metabolites at the study doses, while tissue biomarkers of effect may correlate more effectively with exposure iv length and magnitude of dose. This work indicates that PAH bioavailability from soil is lower than 100%, but additional work needs to be done to determine soil characteristics that affect bioavailability and to determine a bioavailability value relative to reference material.
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35

"Violence Risk Assessment with Youth Who Have Sexually Offended: A Psychometric Examination of the Violence Risk Scale: Youth Sexual Offender Version (VRS:YSO)." Thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2013-04-995.

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The present research was archival in nature. It was divided into three phases involving a comprehensive psychometric examination of a newly developed risk assessment measure designed to assess risk for sexual violence, guide treatment planning, assess readiness to change, and evaluate whether positive changes in risk are linked to reductions in recidivism risk among sexually offending youth–the Violence Risk Scale: Youth Sexual Offender version (VRS:YSO). Phase I focused on an examination of the basic psychometric properties of a young offender version of the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offender Version (VRS–SO; Wong et al., 2003), subsequently referred to as the VRS:YSO. The tool revision was based on a thorough review of the literature on male youth and adults who have sexually offended and selected readings on youth violence, as well as a review of a measure designed to assess risk for violence among violent youth (i.e., the VRS:YV). The developers of the VRS–SO completed the structural revisions to the tool. The resulting risk assessment measure included six static and 17 dynamic risk variables that are empirically and/or theoretically associated with an increased risk for sexual violence among youth. As part of its initial psychometric examination, the VRS:YSO was rated retrospectively from the comprehensive files of 99 male sexually offending youth who had received outpatient sex offender services (i.e., assessment and/or treatment) from the Saskatoon Health Region, Child and Youth Services (CYS)–Young Offender Program (YOP) from 1995 to 2008. Overall, the VRS:YSO showed good-to-excellent interrater reliability, sound item properties (i.e., internal consistency and item-total correlations), and a factor structure that is consistent with research on sexually offending youth and adults, as well as other measures designed to assess risk for sexual violence in youth. Phase II focused on the validation of the VRS:YSO through examining the concurrent, postdictive, predictive, and incremental validity of the measure. Moreover, the psychometric properties of existing specialized risk assessment measures (i.e., J-SOAP-II, ERASOR, and J-SORRAT-II) were examined to inform the limited, albeit growing, literature on risk assessment with sexually offending youth. All measures were rated from the same comprehensive youth files as in Phase I. Youth were followed-up for an average of 11.83 years (SD = 3.42, range = 3.89-17.41) starting from their first contact with the community post-adjudication (i.e., release from custody or commencement of a community sentence). Overall reconviction rates were 8% for sexual, 24% for any violent (sexual and nonsexual), and 37% for general (any) offending. In sum, there was good preliminary evidence for the concurrent and, to some extent, postdictive validity of the VRS:YSO. Furthermore, there was good evidence for the predictive validity of the measure, particularly with respect to any violence (sexual and nonsexual) and general (any) recidivism. There was also encouraging evidence, albeit offset seemingly by a small post-treatment N and thus restricted power, on the potential value of the therapeutic change score in the prediction of recidivism risk. These findings supported the value of the VRS:YSO as a new specialized risk assessment measure for sexually offending youth, particularly as it uniquely includes a systematic rubric for assessing change. Moreover, there was good evidence for the predictive validity of the J-SORRAT-II and certain components of the J-SOAP-II for sexual recidivism. There was also good evidence for the predictive validity of the J-SOAP-II and the ERASOR for violent (sexual and nonsexual) and general (any) recidivism. Lastly, Phase III examined the role of psychopathy-related personality features (as measured by the PCL:YV) in the criminal and treatment outcomes of youth who have sexually offended. The PCL:YV was rated from the same comprehensive youth files (in conjunction with the other measures referenced above). Overall, the PCL:YV significantly predicted violent (sexual and nonsexual) and general (any) reoffending, particularly among offenders with any peer/adult victims, but not sexual reoffending. Increasing psychopathy-related personality features were significantly associated with non-completion of treatment. Clinical implications of research findings, along with limitations and future research directions for each of the three phases of this research were discussed.
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