Psychometric Evaluation of the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory Among Australian Offenders Completing Community-Based Sentences. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gordon, Heidi; Kelty, Sally F.; Julian, Roberta
• Is Part Of: Criminal justice and behavior. Volume 42:Number 11(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1089
• Page End: 1109
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: recidivism -- reoffending -- Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) -- Australian offenders -- factor analysis -- logistic regression, risk assessment; Correctional psychology -- Periodicals; 364.6
• DOI: 10.1177/0093854815596419
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0093-8548

Abstract

Risk assessment inventories play a significant role in predicting recidivism risk and informing parole and community supervision orders. This article examines the effectiveness of the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) in a study of Australian offenders completing community-based sentences. The study aimed to identify the internal reliability and the factor structure of the LS/CMI. The results indicated that the LS/CMI total score achieved excellent internal reliability. There is concern regarding the capacity for the subscales to function independently. A factor analysis determined a two-factor solution at a subscale level, whereas a more diverse factor solution was obtained at an item level. The LS/CMI was determined to be predictive of recidivism, but this was a weak effect. The results indicate that the LS/CMI as it is currently used in this population may not be an appropriate assessment tool, requiring further research before an international risk assessment is adopted in Australian jurisdictions.