The Validity of the Risk-Sophistication-Treatment Inventory-Abbreviated (RSTI-A): Initial Evidence In Support of a Measure Designed for Juvenile Evaluations

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

School

Psychology

Abstract

The current study was the first to investigate the convergent validity of the Risk-Sophistication- Treatment Inventory-Abbreviated (RSTI-A; Salekin, 2012). Adolescent offenders (N = 63) were administered the RSTI-A and completed the RSTI-Self-Report (RSTI-SR; Iselin & Salekin, 2008) and measures related to violence, criminality, psychopathy, and psychosocial and emotional adjustment. The Risk for Offending, Autonomy, Criminal Sophistication, and Motivation to Change subscales were related to corresponding RSTI-SR scales. The incremental validity of RSTI-A Violent and Aggressive Tendencies and Planned and Extensive Criminality subscales to assess independent measures of aggression and delinquency above traditional adult-court transfer criteria and other risk measures was also supported. These findings provide initial evidence suggesting that the RSTI-A can be used as a research tool to assess multiple aspects of risk salient to disposition and transfer decision making, as well as recidivism and long-term offending patterns. However, further research is needed, as the measure is in the early phases of its development.

Publication Title

Psychology, Public Policy, and Law

Volume

21

Issue

2

First Page

205

Last Page

212

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