Arizona Youth Assessment System (AZYAS)

The Juvenile Justice Services  Division (JJSD) of the Arizona Supreme Court in conjunction with the University of Cincinnati worked to adapt the Ohio Youth Assessment System (OYAS) for use in the state of Arizona. JJSD has worked with the fifteen Arizona counties to implement the Arizona Youth Assessment System (AZYAS), which currently consists of five risk assessment tools:

  1. Diversion
  2. Disposition Instrument
  3. Disposition Screener
  4. Residential
  5. Re-Entry

The Detention Screening Instrument (DSI) is also managed in the automated AZYAS website.

The results of the disposition instrument, residential tool, and re-entry tool indentifies the juvenile's criminogenic needs and risk to reoffend. These results, family feedback, and other relevant information are considered when developing the juvenile's case plan with defined goals and objectives.

The completion of the youth assessment is required per Arizona Code of Judicial Administration (ACJA) § 6-105.01 for diversion, ACJA § 6-301.01 for standard probation youth, and ACJA § 6-302.01 for JIPS juveniles.

The AZYAS is a component of the Juvenile Justice Improvement Project (JJSIP).

Risk Assessment Tools

Diversion Tool
The diversion tool is completed for all non-court cases and conducted pre or post Diversion. This tool is designed to allow low risk youth to be diverted from the juvenile justice system. For those youth scoring moderate or high risk, it is recommended that further assessments are completed to determine the appropriate interventions.

The following items, related to the youth, are scored with this tool:
  1. Prior Offenses
  2. Currently Charged with a Felony
  3. First Contact with a Juvenile Justice System
  4. Prior Probation
  5. Family member(s) arrested
  6. Parents Have Difficult Time Supervising youth
 

 

Disposition Instrument
The Disposition Instrument is completed for all adjudicated youth post-adjudication or within 30 days from disposition and re-assessed every six months. The tool identifies the juvenile's criminogenic needs and risk to reoffend with a new delinquent offense (misdemeanor or felony) in the following seven domains:

  1. Juvenile Justice History
  2. Family and Living Arrangements
  3. Peers and Social Support
  4. Education and Employment
  5. Pro-Social Skill Set
  6. Substance Abuse, Personality, and Mental Health
  7. Values, Beliefs and Attitudes

Training and certification are required to administer this tool.

Disposition Screening Tool
The Disposition Screening Tool is designed to be used for all court cases as an initial assessment. The following items related to youth are scored with this tool:

  1. Juvenile Justice History
  2. Education
  3. Substance Use
  4. Attitudes, Values, and Beliefs

Please note that a case plan cannot be developed based on the results of the disposition screener, instead, the full disposition tool is required.

Residential Tool
The residential tool is conducted post-adjudication for placement decision or at residential intake for the development of a treatment plan. This tool is designed to be completed as youth enter a residential program where the intended length of stay is longer than three months.

 

This tool scores the following seven domains:
  1. Juvenile Justice History
  2. Family and Living Arrangements
  3. Peers and Social Support Network
  4. Education and Employment
  5. Pro-Social Skills
  6. Substance Abuse, Mental Health, and Personality
  7. Attitudes, Beliefs, and Attitudes

Prior to discharge from residential, the re-entry tool or disposition instrument is to be completed.

 

Re-Entry Tool
Re-Entry tool is intended to be used with youth prior to release from residential care or as a re-assessment for youth while in placement.

This tool scores the following seven domains:
  1. Juvenile Justice History
  2. Family and Living Arrangements
  3. Peers and Social Support Network
  4. Education and Employment
  5. Pro-Social Skills
  6. Substance Abuse and Personality
  7. Values, Beliefs, and Attitudes

Contacts:

  Yvonne Plascencia   Operational Review Specialist   [email protected]
  Fran DeWalt   Operational Review Specialist   [email protected]
  Chris Varner   Operations and Budget Manager   [email protected]