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ADULT-COURT-TESTS.COM
AUTOMATED (COMPUTER SCORED) ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS


Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc.

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 ADULT  COURT  TESTS

This site was constructed in response to Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. website www.riskandneeds.com visitors request.  They wanted a site focused on "adult court tests" that was short and to the point.  Yet they also wanted the opportunity to acquire as much in-depth test-related information as desired.  Some court tests searchers want more information than others and each searcher wants to decide for themselves "how much is enough."  To meet these needs Risk & Needs constructed this site www.adult-court-tests.com with links to its in-depth website www.riskandneeds.com.

This website, adult-court-tests.com, describes two tests, presents their example reports and provides navigational links to topics like cost, test comparison checklists, free 1-test Examination Kits and how these tests can be ordered.  This website focuses upon two Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. adult court tests.  Each tests title is self-descriptive and these names are links to that tests discussion on this webpage.

Defendant Questionnaire (DQ)

Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI)

Each of these tests are self-report assessment instruments or defendant tests.  The DQ and SAI are also used in treatment settings.  Each of these tests is appropriate for misdemeanor and felony assessment.  They are used with males and females and are standardized on the defendant populations they were designed to evaluate. Confidentiality is assured with Risk & Needs proprietary “delete client names” from diskettes software.  Client names are removed from test diskettes before they are returned to Risk & Needs for inclusion in the tests expanding database.  This 'name deletion' procedure insures client confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA (federal regulation 45 C.F.R. 164.501) requirements.

Why use this webpage?  To quickly determine whether these two tests will meet your needs.  Two adult court tests are presented along with their example reports.

Scale scores on each of these "adult court tests" measure the severity of abuse. This enables evaluators to match problem severity with treatment intensity, which is very important to intervention or treatment effectiveness. For example, the Alcohol Scale score represents the severity of the defendant's alcohol related problem. With this problem severity score evaluators can refer defendant's to appropriate levels of intervention or treatment (e.g., levels of supervision, educational classes, AA meetings, outpatient group counseling, medication treatment, intensive outpatient services, inpatient chemical dependency treatment, etc.).

On this “Adult Court Tests” website there are six navigational links presented for each test.  These links are at the end of each tests webpage and include: 1. Cost (Test Unit Fee), 2. Example test report, 3. How to order tests, 4. Test Comparison Checklist, 5. Free Examination Kit and 6. Risk & Needs website link www.riskandneeds.com

More comprehensive "scale interpretation" is provided on the Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com.  There are  several levels of each tests scale interpretation ranging from viewing these tests as self-report instruments to interpreting scale elevations and scale interrelationships.  Scale Interpretation is discussed on most tests Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc.  www.riskandneeds.com test webpage.

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DEFENDANT
AUTOMATED (COMPUTER SCORED) ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT

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FOR ADULT COURT TESTS

The Defendant questionnaire (DQ) is designed for defendant assessment in court settings.  The DQ is particularly useful in substance (alcohol and other drugs) abuse cases.  The DQ is designed for drug courts and general population (misdemeanor and felony) courts.  The DQ is also used in adult probation, community corrections and treatment settings.

TWO COURT

SETTINGS LINKS

 

TWO ADULT COURT

TEST LINKS

 


DEFENDANT QUESTIONNAIRE (DQ)

The DQ has 162 items and takes 35 minutes to complete.  DQ reports are computer scored with reports printed on-site within 2½ minutes.  The DQ has seven scales (measures): 1. Truthfulness Scale, 2. Alcohol Scale, 3. Drugs Scale, 4. Substance Abuse/Dependency Scale, 5. Violence (Lethality) Scale, 6. Antisocial Scale and 7. Stress Coping Abilities Scale.

SEVEN  DQ  SCALES

1. Truthfulness Scale: Measures how truthful the defendant was while completing the DQ.  This scale identifies denial, problem minimization and attempts to fake good.

 
2. Alcohol Scale: Measures alcohol use and the severity of abuse.  This scale measures the severity of abuse while identifying alcohol-related problems.
 
3. Drugs Scale: Measures the severity of illicit drug use or abuse.  Drugs refer to marijuana, crack, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates and heroin.
 
4. Substance Abuse/Dependency Scale: Classifies substance (alcohol or other drugs) users as “abusers,” “dependent,” or “non-pathological users” according to DSM-IV (Diagnostic & Statistical Manual) criteria.
 
5. Violence (Lethality) Scale: Measures the defendant’s propensity for using force to injure, damage or destroy.  This scale identifies people that are dangerous to themselves and others. 
 
6. Antisocial Scale: Measures antisocial attitudes and behavior.  It identifies defendants that are opposed to society and are irresponsible and aggressive.
 
7. Stress Coping Abilities Scale: Measures the defendant’s ability to cope with stress.  Stress exacerbates emotional and mental health symptoms.  This scale provides a non-introversive way to screen for established emotional and mental health problems.

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More comprehensive DQ scale interpretation is provided in the Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com.  There are several levels of DQ scale interpretation ranging from viewing the DQ as a self-report to interpreting scale elevations and scale interrelationships. To review this "scale interpretation" section of the DQ description on the Risk & Needs website click on this link www.riskandneeds.com, then click on the "Tests Alphabetically Listed" link in the left margin of the sites webpage, scroll down to Defendant Questionnaire (DQ), click on the test name and you will be on the DQ's webpage.  "Scale Interpretation" links are in courtesy links, tables or you can scroll approximately ¾ through the DQ webpage where you will come to the "Scale Interpretation" discussion.

In summary, the Defendant Questionnaire (DQ) evaluates the defendant’s test taking attitude.  It measures the severity of substance (alcohol and other drugs) abuse while integrating DSM-IV substance abuse/dependency criteria.  Scale-related recommendations are American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) compatible.  The DQ also quantifies violence and lethality potential while screening antisocial thinking.  And the DQ measures the defendant’s ability to handle stress and pressure.  An example DQ report is available by clicking on the Example DQ Test Report link.

DQ  RESEARCH

Defendant Questionnaire (DQ) validity, reliability and accuracy research is reported in the “ DQ: An Inventory of Scientific Findings.”  The Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com also contains some DQ research studies, annual summary reports and accuracy research. 

Internal consistencies (alpha coefficients) for 948 defendants that
were administered the Defendant Questionnaire (DQ) in 2002 are reported in the following table.


Reliability (coefficient alpha) of the DQ (N=948)
 

Defendant Questionnaire Scales

Alpha
Coefficients

Significance
Level


Truthfulness Scale


.88


p<.001

Violence (Lethality)

.89

p<.001

Antisocial Scale

.87

p<.001

Alcohol Scale

.91

p<.001

Drugs Scale

.90

p<.001

Substance Abuse/Dependency

.91

p<.001

Stress Coping Abilities

.89

p<.001

All DQ scales have alpha (reliability) coefficients well above the professionally accepted standard of .80 and are at the impressive significance level of p<.001.  The DQ has been standardized on thousands of defendants and each research study has demonstrated impressive validity, reliability and accuracy.

 

 

The Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. website link www.riskandneeds.com presents all of Risk & Needs tests.  Each of these tests is described, example reports are presented and test-related research is provided.  Each of the two adult court tests discussed on this site adult-court-tests.com are also included in the Risk & Needs site - but in much greater detail.  If you want to learn more about Risk & Needs (including the Defendant Questionnaire), its adult and juvenile tests or its website click on www.riskandneeds.com.

The Defendant Questionnaire (DQ) was designed with drug court staff assistance.  Many of their suggestions like DSM-IV substance abuse/dependency criteria, ASAM compatibility and scale selection are included  in the Defendant Questionnaire (DQ).

If you have any Defendant Questionnaire (DQ) questions please contact Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc., P.O. Box 44828, Phoenix, Arizona 85064-4828.  Telephone number: (602) 234-3506, Fax: (602) 266-8227, e-mail address: info@riskandneeds.com.  Our offices are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, Mountain Standard Time.


For more information on the Defendant Questionnaire (DQ) visit www.Defendant-Questionnaire.com.

 

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ADULT-COURT-TESTS.COM
AUTOMATED (COMPUTER SCORED) ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT

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FOR ADULT COURT TESTS


This site was constructed in response to Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. website www.riskandneeds.com visitors request.  They wanted a site focused on "adult court tests" that was short and to the point.  Yet they also wanted the opportunity to acquire as much in-depth test-related information as desired.  Some court tests searchers want more information than others and each searcher wants to decide for themselves "how much is enough."  To meet these needs Risk & Needs constructed this site www.adult-court-tests.com with links to its in-depth website www.riskandneeds.com.

Due to the subject matter of the Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) and the number of SAI scales (measures) it is recommended that visitors interested in the SAI visit the Risk & Needs www.riskandneeds.com website SAI webpage.  There are several levels of SAI scale interpretation ranging from viewing the SAI as a self-report to interpreting scale elevations and scale interrelationships.  To review this "scale interpretation" discussion click on the Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com link, then click on the "Tests Alphabetically Listed" link and scroll down to the "Sexual Adjustment Inventory" and click on it.  You will go to the SAI webpage.  About ¾ way through this webpage you will come to the section "SAI Scale Interpretation."

The Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) is designed to identify sexually deviate and paraphiliac behavior in adults accused or convicted of sexual offenses.  The SAI has been standardized on thousands of adult sex offenders.  It includes sexual deviance and commonly associated problematic attitudes, substance abuse and behavioral disorder screens.  The SAI is a comprehensive sex offender assessment instrument or test.  And it is a popular sex offenders screening instrument.

The Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) has 225 items, thirteen scales and takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

TWO COURT

SETTINGS LINKS

 

TWO ADULT COURT TESTS

TEST LINKS

 


SEXUAL ADJUSTMENT INVENTORY (SAI)

The Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) contains two Truthfulness Scales: 1. Sex Item Truthfulness Scale and 2. Test Item Truthfulness Scale. It would be very naive to expect sex offenders to be truthful when interviewed, answering questions or taking a test. The Sex Item Truthfulness scale measures how truthful the defendant was while answering sex-related items. The Test Item Truthfulness scale measures how truthful the defendant was while answering non-sex-related items. These two Truthfulness Scales are very important when assessing, evaluating or screening people accused of sex offenses.

The Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) has thirteen scales (measures).  Six of these scales are sex-related:  1. Sex Item Truthfulness Scale, 2. Sexual Adjustment Scale, 3. Child (Pedophile) Molest Scale, 4. Sexual (Rape) Assault Scale, 5. Exhibitionism Scale and 6. Incest Classification.

The SAI has seven non-sex-related scales (measures): 7. Test Item Truthfulness Scale, 8. Alcohol Scale, 9. Drugs Scale, 10. Violence (Lethality) Scale, 11. Antisocial Scale, 12. Distress Scale and 13. Impulsiveness Scale.

In one test we can assess important sex-related and non-sex-related areas of inquiry.  This comprehensive multi-scale approach gives us at one sitting of approximately 50 minutes duration a lot of information important for understanding the sex offender.  Even if the sex offender invalidates his SAI test because of excessive lying to sex items, non-sex-items or both -- we still have obtained important information from the two truthfulness scales.

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THIRTEEN  SAI  SCALES

1. Sex Item Truthfulness Scale: Measures how truthful the client is while answering sex-related questions.  Sex-related items are easily recognized.  An offender who wants to minimize or deny or attempt to “fake good” when answering sex-related items will be detected.  This scale is 98% accurate.

 

2. Test Item Truthfulness Scale: Measures how truthful the client is when answering non-sex-related items.  This scale will detect offenders attempting to lie, minimize problems or “fake good.”  This scale is also 98% accurate.

 

3. Sexual Adjustment Scale: Measures the client’s self-reported sexual adjustment.  This scale has sex items that most “normal” (by definition not sex offenders) people agree or disagree with.  Norming the SAI on both “normals” and “sex offenders” allows accurate comparison scoring.

 

4. Child (Pedophile) Molest Scale: Measures a client’s interest in sex, their urges and fantasies involving prepubescent children.  Pedophilia refers to a pathological sexual interest in children.

 

5. Sexual (Rape) Assault Scale: Measures sexual assault proneness.  Rape refers to sexual assault or sexual intercourse against the will and over the objections of the partner.  It is often accompanied by force or the threat of force.

 

6. Exhibitionism Scale: Measures a person’s need to expose their sex organs to unsuspecting individuals.  Exhibitionists are often identified by the repetitive, compulsive and patterned nature of their acts.

 

7. Incest Classification: Classifies incestuous behavior, i.e., sexual intercourse with a family member (other than one’s spouse).  Incest refers to coitus between persons related by blood or marriage.

 

8. Alcohol Scale: Measures alcohol use and the severity of abuse.  Alcohol refers to beer, wine and other liquors.  Alcohol is a licit or legal substance.

 

9. Drugs Scale: Measures illicit drug use and the severity of abuse.  Drugs refer to marijuana, crack, cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, heroin, etc.

 

10. Violence (Lethality) Scale: Measures the clients use of physical force to injure, damage or destroy.  This scale identifies people that are dangerous to themselves and others.

 

11. Antisocial Scale: Measures antisocial thinking in a client’s attitudes and behavior.  These clients are often selfish, ungrateful and often seem devoid of responsibility.

 

12. Distress Scale: Measures two symptom clusters (anxiety and depression) that taken together represent distress.  The blending of these symptom clusters is shown in the definition of dysphoria, i.e., a generalized feeling of anxiety, resentment and depression.

 

13. Impulsiveness Scale: Identifies people that abruptly engage in activities without adequate forethought, reflection or consideration of consequences. There are several definitions of "impulsive" on the web that use a variety of words like "without forethought,' "capricious," "whim," "undue haste" and "impetuous."

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SAI SCALE INTERPRETATION


Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) "scale interpretation" can be discussed at several levels. For example, you can view the SAI as a self report or you can interpret scale elevations and scale interrelationships. For more discussion on scale interpretation click on this Scale Interpretation link. This link takes you to the "Scale interpretation" discussion on the Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com.

SAI  RESEARCH

Early Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) research included criterion based validity with other tests along with reliability and accuracy studies.  This research is reported in the “SAI: An Inventory of Scientific Findings,”   Additional SAI research is presented in Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com.  Research studies repeatedly show that the SAI is a valid, reliable and accurate test.  For example, the internal consistencies (coefficient alpha) for the Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) scales are reported in a year 2000 study that involved 1,318 sex offenders.


SAI RELIABILITY (COEFFICIENT ALPHA), N=1,318

SAI Scales

Coefficient
Alpha

Significance
Level


Test Item Truthfulness


.88


p<.001

Sex Item Truthfulness

.85

p<.001

Sexual Adjustment Scale

.85

p<.001

Child (Pedophile) Molest

.85

p<.001

Sexual (Rape) Assault Scale

 .87

p<.001

Exhibitionism Scale

.85

p<.001

Incest Classification

.84

p<.001

Alcohol Scale

.94

p<.001

Drugs Scale

.92

p<.001

Violence (Lethality) Scale

.89

p<.001

Antisocial Scale

.86

p<.001

Distress Scale

.88

p<.001

Impulsiveness Scale

.84

p<.001

All Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) scales have alpha coefficients well above the professionally accepted standard of .80 and are highly reliable.  All coefficient alphas are significant at the p<.001 level of significance.  Many SAI studies have been conducted on thousands of sex offenders.
 

SAI-JUVENILE: A SHORT VERSION OF THE SAI

SAI-JUVENILE

The Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) has been modified for juvenile use.  The juvenile version of the SAI is called the SAI-Juvenile.  The SAI-Juvenile is designed to identify sexual deviate and paraphiliac behavior in juveniles (12 to 18) accused or convicted of sexual offenses.  The SAI-Juvenile has 230 items and takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete.  SAI-Juvenile reports are scored and printed on-site with-in 3 minutes.  The SAI-Juvenile has the same 13 measures (scales) as the adult SAI.  Much of the sexual deviancy language couldn't be changed.  However, attempts were made to lower the SAI-Juveniles reading level.  Interested parties can click on the Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com link.  Then click on the "Tests Alphabetically Listed" link (in the left margin), scroll down to the SAI-Juvenile, click on it and you will go directly to the SAI-Juvenile webpage.

If you have any Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) questions, contact Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc., P.O. Box 44828, Phoenix, Arizona 85064-4828.  Telephone number: (602) 234-3506, Fax: (602) 266-8227, e-mail address: info@riskandneeds.com.  Risk & Needs offices are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, Mountain Standard Time.


For more information on the Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI) visit
www.sexual-adjustment-inventory.com.



SUMMARY

This is a specialty satellite website that focuses entirely upon “Adult Court Tests.”  More specifically, this website presented two adult court tests from the Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. menu or list of automated (computer scored) self-report assessment instruments or tests.  These two tests include:

Defendant Questionnaire (DQ)

Sexual Adjustment Inventory (SAI)

The above test links are provided in case you want to go back and review any of these assessment instruments or tests.  Click on any test name and you will be taken to that tests discussion on this webpage.  Each of these discussions focuses on that tests description, presentation of its scales (measures) and a brief discussion of that tests research.

Scale scores on each of these "adult court tests" measure the severity of abuse. This enables evaluators to match problem severity with treatment intensity, which is very important to intervention or treatment effectiveness. For example, the Alcohol Scale score represents the severity of the defendant's alcohol related problem. With this problem severity score evaluators can refer defendant's to appropriate levels of intervention or treatment (e.g., levels of supervision, educational classes, AA meetings, outpatient group counseling, medication treatment, intensive outpatient services, inpatient chemical dependency treatment, etc.).

When you arrive at Risk & Needs website www.riskandneeds.com there are navigational links in the left margin of each webpage. Click on the “Tests Alphabetically Listed” link and then scroll down to the test you are looking for.  Click on that tests name and you will go directly to that tests webpage.

In addition to providing more in-depth test information the Risk & Needs website presents many of its other tests.  These tests include, but are not limited to, adult court tests, juvenile court tests, domestic violence offender tests, violence and lethality tests, sexual (rape) assault tests, child (pedophile) molest tests, etc. Another way to classify Risk & Needs adult tests is: 1. Court, probation and corrections tests, 2. Violence and lethality tests, 3. Driver-related tests and 4. Clinical, counseling and treatment tests.

This concludes the adult-court-tests.com webpage.  This specialty “adult court tests” webpage was constructed in response to many visitor requests.  They wanted an easier way to identify Risk & Needs adult court tests on the internet.  We hope this specialty website helps meet that need.


ADULT COURT TESTS OVER THE INTERNET
Professional Online Testing Solutions, Inc. enables you to administer both of these Adult Court Tests over the internet at a very affordable fee. You can download test booklets, answer sheets, training manuals, example reports and research free. To establish your account (takes three to four minutes) click on www.online-testing.com.

Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc.

P.O. Box 44828, Phoenix, Arizona 85064-4828

Telephone: (602) 234-3506, Fax: (602) 266-8227

E-mail: info@riskandneeds.com

Website: www.riskandneeds.com

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