| In 1997, the California Youth Authority (CYA) implemented a paper-and-pencil assessment package to obtain ongoing direct information about the mental health status of wards entering state-level institutions. Sources of possible inaccuracy in these assessments include: (a) The reluctance of some wards to disclose aberrant or "bad" thoughts, feelings or behaviors; (b) The attempt by some wards to influence programming decisions by minimizing or exaggerating symptoms; (c) The situational distress and/or disorientation resulting from state-level incarceration; and (d) Standard reliability or validity problems associated with the assessment instruments. This presentation will report on an NIJ-funded research project designed to evaluate these problems, refine the assessment package, and establish the package as a reliable and valuable classification tool. File reviews, and interviews with treatment and security staff were conducted for approximately 1,000 wards. These data were used to estimate the prevalence of mental health treatment needs in this population, to determine the validity and reliability of the assessment package, and to develop a better understanding of the relationship among mental health problems, prior criminal behavior, personality characteristics, and functioning (including aggressiveness) within institutional environments. |
Updated 05/20/2006