The YASI in Juvenile Court: A Research Note on Judges’ Perceptions and Implementation Needs

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This pilot study explores judges’ perceptions of the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI), a risk and needs assessment tool used in juvenile court disposition decisions. Survey data from 42 judges across three U.S. states reveal that while judges view these tools as beneficial for standardizing evaluations and supporting rehabilitation efforts, they expressed concerns that overreliance could overlook individual circumstances and may not adequately account for changes over time. Perceptions varied by judicial experience and gender, particularly regarding fairness, implementation support, and data accuracy. Judges emphasized the need for consistent training, quality assurance measures, and feedback from youth and families, offering recommendations to improve YASI’s utility and effectiveness. These findings contribute new insights into judicial perceptions of assessment tools and enhance understanding of how judges engage with structured decision-making instruments to improve judicial decision-making and youth outcomes in juvenile justice.