The international literature is consistent in pointing risk factors strongly associated with the persistence of offending behavior in adolescents. This knowledge has been used as the basis for the development of instruments to evaluate the risk of recurrent offences, with the main purpose of adapting the judicial measure, type and level of intervention to the needs of the adolescent. The aim of the present study was to carry out an exploratory investigation of the performance of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory instrument, based on risk factors associated with the persistence of offending behavior, in a samples of forty adolescents in conflict with the law, in the interior of the State of São Paulo. After a period of six to twelve months from the initial data collection, a survey was carried out at the Childhood and Youth Registry Office to verify the registration of new offenses. Statistics analysis showed the good predictive capacity of the instrument. Other findings and limitations of the study are presented and discussed.
Adolescenct; Adolescence in conflict with the law; Risk factors
