Juveniles with sex offenses (JSOs) are statutorily unique in terms of mandated management provisions. Managerial decisions are informed by risk assessment instruments that often do not take into account the challenges associated with a prediction for JSOs, because of the dynamic nature of adolescent development, the heterogeneity of JSOs, and the low base rates of reoffense. The present study developed, implemented, and revised a Youth Needs and Progress Scale (YNPS), which sought to address some of these challenges by focusing on tracking dynamic intervention needs across time as a vehicle for mitigating risk rather than attempting to assess risk as the outcome variable. Stage 1 focused on identifying domain and item generation to develop the scale. Stage 2 used a panel of experts to establish content validity. The test version of the YNPS was implemented in five states across multiple sites. Data were collected from 608 youth at numerous time points. Factor analysis was used for item deduction. Three factors emerged that contained dynamic intervention targets for general nondelinquent behavior, sexual behavior, and socioecological characteristics. Trend analyses revealed that youth classified as higher and lower risk significantly decreased intervention needs across four assessments over 12 months. The practical utility of the YNPS for capturing change attributable to normal development and interventions and individualizing interventions is discussed. Further, the trend analysis may provide preliminary support that change was possible and achieved within a short timeframe for both higher and lower-risk youth.

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