RESUMOO objetivo do estudo foi selecionar itens para composição da versão reduzida do Inventário de Jesness -Revisado brasileiro, instrumento específico de avaliação psicológica de adolescentes infratores. Foram utilizados dados de 954 adolescentes da população, com idades entre 11 e 18 anos, do sexo masculino. Realizaram-se análises do Modelo Exploratório de Teoria de Resposta ao Item (EMIRT) e, em seguida, do Modelo Confirmatório de Teoria de Resposta ao Item (CMIRT), para cada escala do instrumento, separadamente. Na etapa do EMIRT foram excluídos itens com α inaceitável; na do CMIRT mantidos apenas itens com α moderado ou alto. Denotou-se existência de subdimensões nas escalas, sendo que alguns itens se mantiveram em mais de uma escala. Chegou-se assim a uma versão com 86 itens.As estratégias adotadas permitiram selecionar itens com maior capacidade discriminativa/explicativa e a detectar subdimensões cujos conteúdos analisados preliminarmente propiciam avanço na compreensão dos construtos aferidos pelo Inventário.Palavras-chave: delinquência juvenil; avaliação psicológica; medidas da personalidade; teoria de resposta ao item. ABSTRACT -Development of the Reduced Brazilian Version of the Jesness Inventory -RevisedThe aim of this study was to select items for the composition of the reduced Brazilian version of the Jesness Inventory -Revised, a specific instrument for the psychological evaluation of juvenile offenders. Data from 954 adolescents of the population aged between 11 and 18 years were used. Analyses using the Item Response Theory Exploratory Model (IRTEM) and then the Item Response Theory Confirmation Model (IRTCM) were performed for each scale of the instrument. In the IRTEM stage, items with an unacceptable α were excluded and in the IRTCM stage only items with moderate or high α values were maintained. Subdimensions were found in the scales. This led to a version with 86 items. The strategies adopted allowed the selection of items with greater discriminative/explanatory capacity and the identification of subdimensions through preliminary content analysis helped in the comprehension of the construct.

O comportamento delitivo dos adolescentes pode-se desenvolver com diferentes padrões de trajetória. Por isso, muitos pesquisadores da área têm procurado compreender essas diferenças em termos de tipos e perfis. Considerando que uma dificuldade dentro deste campo é a falta de sistematização dos resultados previamente encontrados, o objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão da literatura, analisando os estudos que procuraram encontrar os diferentes perfis dos adolescentes infratores. Foi realizada uma busca nas bases de dados PsycInfo, Web of Science e Scielo, e foram selecionados 56 estudos. Em geral, os estudos procuraram encontrar perfis considerando fatores de risco e proteção, trajetórias delitivas e características psicológicas. A revisão apontou que é necessário clarificar os aspectos que são relevantes em relação a delimitação de perfis e em como esse conhecimento poderia ser aplicado na prática. Palavras-chave: delinquência juvenil; perfis; trajetórias delitivas; taxonomia; revisão de literatura Typology in juvenile delinquency: A literature reviewThe delinquent behavior of adolescents can develop in different trajectories. Many researchers sought to understand differences in terms of types/ profiles. A difficulty in this field is the lack of systematization of the results previously found, this study aimed to carry out a review of the literature, analyzing the studies that sought to find profiles among the juvenile offenders. A search was performed on PsycInfo, Web of Science and Scielo databases and 56 studies were selected. The studies found profiles considering risk/protection factors, criminal trajectories and psychological characteristics. The review pointed out that it is necessary to clarify the aspects that are relevant in relation to the delimitation of profiles and in how this knowledge could be applied in practice.

The present study verified the existence of psychological profiles among Brazilian adolescent offenders, using data from a sample (n=858) collected with the Brazilian version of the Revised Jesness Inventory (JI-R-Br). This instrument is a comprehensive, self-report measure of personal dispositions (traits) that are associated with vulnerability to antisocial behavior (Impulsivity, Aggression/Hostility, Sensation Seeking) and adaptive patterns (Antisocial Values/Beliefs and Antisocial Attitudes). Cluster analyses showed three significantly distinct groups: group 1 (n=276), called Asocial, was comprised of impulsive/aggressive adolescents with high antisocial motivation, low self-control and very focused on their own needs. Group 2 (n=346), called Neurotic Antisocial, was comprised of adolescents with high rates of depression and anxiety, as well as low self-control, but with less antisocial motivation when compared with group 1. Group 3 (n=236) was similar to group 4 (normative group; n=572). Our results corroborate those described by other studies in the literature. They show the importance of different practices and/or interventions when working with offenders, given that there are different profiles based on different psychological characteristics/needs for this population.

Considering that adolescent offenders are quite a heterogeneous group in terms of behavioral and psychosocial variables, it is considered that a typological approach can assist in the systematization of these differences, aiming at a better understanding of the phenomenon and at clearer guidance in terms of interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the behavioral and psychosocial profiles of male adolescent offenders, based on empirical data collected in a Brazilian sociocultural context. The profiles were made with a sample of 400 adolescent offenders to perform an exploratory latent classes analysis. The instruments used in data collection were the Youth Behavior Questionnaire (Questionário de Comportamentos Juvenis, QCJ) and the Brazilian Jesness Inventory—Revised (Inventário Jesness-Revisado-Brasileiro, IJ-R-Br). The most appropriate model was that of four classes, with the profiles found indicating differences between the adolescent offenders both in relation to psychological functioning and criminal pattern, as well as the psychosocial risk/protective factors associated with each of the profiles. These findings, in addition to contributing to understanding the phenomenon, may help to reflect on the assessments required to assist in judicial decision-making processes and the customized proposal of psychosocial interventions.

Existem sólidas evidências internacionais acerca de fatores de risco específicos associados ao desenvolvimento da conduta delituosa na adolescência. No presente estudo buscou-se identificar quais dos fatores se mostrariam significativos no contexto sociocultural brasileiro. Trabalhou-se com dados de uma amostra composta por 529 adolescentes do sexo masculino, com idades entre 16 e 18 anos (260 judicializados; 269 escolares), coletados com um questionário. Foram feitas análises de regressão logística, sendo que no modelo ajustado, as variáveis que se mostraram relevantes foram: a) status socioeconômico; b) paternidade; c) idade; d) trabalho; e) uso de substâncias; f) pares de idade; g) desempenho escolar; h) impulsividade; i) supervisão parental; e i) investimento familiar. Atuando como risco, os fatores mais relevantes foram baixo status socioeconômica e uso frequente de maconha. Atuando como proteção somente investimento familiar.

Substance use in adolescence relates to other problems such as involvement in violence and mental/physical health problems. This study aimed to identify substance use patterns in a considerable sample of Brazilian adolescents and to estimate the magnitude of the relationship between each pattern and violence involvement indicators, as aggressor and/or as victim, and of mental and general health. The data analyzed were collected from 6702 schoolchildren, within the scope of the National Survey of School Health, employing latent class analysis for reports of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and crack cocaine use. The five groups identified were compared regarding their involvement in violence and mental and general health aspects. Abstainers (18%) would neither make use of substances, nor be involved in violence or display health problems. Drinkers (26%) would tend to only make use of alcohol, but would not display the other problems either. Conventional Drug Users (28%) would tend to make use of alcohol and tobacco or alcohol and marijuana and would also be involved in violence, but would not display health problems. Polysubstance Users (23%) would tend to make use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana and would be more frequently involved in violence. Hard Drug Users (5%) would tend to make frequent use of all substances in addition to also being more involved in violence, both as aggressor and victim, and would display mental/general health problems. Our findings reveal different levels of problems and reinforce the importance of varied prevention/treatment policies in order to meet specific demands.

Personality aspects that present a risk for criminal conducts are susceptible to changes. This study aimed to identify the profile of adolescents in conflict with the law based on the Social Maladjustment (SM) construct, to describe patterns of criminal conducts, and to verify the continuity and change on these variables, in a longitudinal prospective study. A sample of 78 adolescents answered to the Jesness Inventory - revised in Brazil and to the Questionnaire of Youth Behaviors, at two collection times (W1 and W2). The profiles were identified with latent class growth analysis and the behavior patterns were compared with Student’s t test. Two classes were obtained: High SM and Normative SM. At W1, SM high scores were associated to high frequency in the perpetration of crimes and both classes had lower SM at W2. The results point to the possibility of changes in SM and in conduct over time.

The aim of this study was to analyze evidence of convergent and concurrent criterion validity of the scales of the short form of the Jesness Inventory - Revised - Brazilian version. A sample of 597 male adolescents, aged between 12 and 20 years, participated in the study. The evidence of convergent validity obtained indicates that most scales would have maintained their interpretive meaning in the short form. They also indicated the need for further investigations on the Immaturity scale. The concurrent criterion validity suggests that high scores on the scales can differentiate adolescents based on both criteria, Judicialization and Frequency of self-reported delinquency in the last 12 months. Investment in standardized and brief instruments can drive the development of evidence-based practices in the juvenile justice system and, for this, a research agenda is presented.