Convergent and Predictive Validity of the Jesness Inventory in a Sample of Juvenile Offenders

Abstract

The present study examined the convergent and predictive validity of the Jesness Inventories (JI) in a sample of 138 juvenile offenders, completed in the course of routine service delivery. JI profiles were compared with ratings on three standardized forensic clinical scales: the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory, Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version, and Violence Risk Scale-Youth Version. The JI Asocial Index and the Undersocialized Active and Group-Oriented Conformist Interpersonal Maturity Level (I-level) subtypes demonstrated the strongest pattern of convergence and most consistently predicted recidivism. The Asocial Index did not incrementally predict recidivism after controlling for scores on the standardized forensic clinical scales; however, meaningful differences among broad I-Level groups (I-3 and I-4) remained after controlling for risk. Risk-need-responsivity applications of the JI (i.e., in terms of treatment dosage, identifying treatment targets, and adaptation of services) are discussed within the context of a comprehensive forensic assessment framework to inform case formulation, service delivery, and decision making with justice involved youth.

Social Maladjustment and Criminal Behavior Pattern Changes in Adolescents in Conflict with the Law

“…Despite the availability of data on many other variables, the analyses fell only on the IJ-R-Br Social Maladjustment scale, due to the convenience of working with a single variable in LCGA, but also given its theoretical and empirical value. National and international studies indicate that it is one of the JI-R's scales more related to criminal conduct in adolescence (Komatsu & Bazon, 2017;Olver & Stockdale, 2017). To perform the analysis, the T scores on this scale were categorized considering three ranges: (a) T score with a value up to 55 -low/normative SM; (b) T score between 56 and 65 -moderate SM; (c) T score above 65 -high SM.…”

“…These personality characteristics are compatible with the construct of Social Maladjustment, measured by one of the scales of the Jesness Inventory -revised in Brazil (IJ-R-Br), which bears this name. This construct has a multidimensional character and evaluates together aspects related to "Personality and Antisocial Cognition" (Jesness, 2003;Olver & Stockdale, 2017;Semel, 2016). This is because individuals who score high on this scale show less ability to consider, in a socially approved way, the demands of the environment, presenting pronounced antisocial orientation, hostility towards the other, negative emotionality, and impulsiveness (Jesness, 2003).…”

“…This is because individuals who score high on this scale show less ability to consider, in a socially approved way, the demands of the environment, presenting pronounced antisocial orientation, hostility towards the other, negative emotionality, and impulsiveness (Jesness, 2003). In addition, diverse evidence indicates that the Social Maladjustment construct contributes to the identification of adolescents who have different levels of criminal engagement (Semel, 2016;Olver & Stockdale, 2017).…”

Análisis de las propiedades psicométricas de la versión reducida del Inventario Jesness – Revisado

“…La versión revisada y más reciente del JI-R está entre los instrumentos más utilizados en los sistemas de justicia juvenil de Estados Unidos y Canadá (Olver & Stockdale, 2016;Semel, 2016) -al lado del Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory -Adolescent -MMPI-A y del Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory -MACI (Pinsoneault & Ezzo, 2011).…”

“…Ha sido objeto de investigaciones en este mismo contexto (Olver & Stockdale, 2016;Semel, 2016), y también en Brasil (Costa et al, 2017), en Chile (Érgas & Narvaéz, 2015;Wenger, 2010) y en España (Jornet-Gibert et al, 2013;Wenger, 2018). En todos estos países, la herramienta presenta propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias y utilidad clínica, lo que justifica la continuidad de estudios para ajustarla y perfeccionarla en adaptaciones transculturales.…”