Section 22. Risk and Needs Assessment
Effective April 7, 2021
(a) A problem-solving court considering an individual’s eligibility for problem-solving court participation and admitting participants under a criminal case number or delinquency case number shall develop and observe written policy and procedure for scheduling, conducting, and implementing case plans based on the results of risk and needs assessments utilizing the Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) or the Indiana Youth Assessment System (IYAS).
(b) The IRAS/IYAS risk and needs assessment policy, procedure and practice shall meet each of the following criteria:
(1) Risk and needs assessments shall be conducted by an individual certified by the Indiana Office of Court Services in accordance with the Indiana Youth Assessment System and Indiana Risk Assessment System user certification policy adopted by the Judicial Conference of Indiana Board of Directors.
(2) If the risk and needs assessment results suggest that the participant requires a more detailed evaluation in a particular area such as substance abuse, mental health, etc., the participant shall be referred to an appropriate provider for further evaluation.
(3) Reassessments shall be conducted in accordance with the Indiana Youth Assessment System policy or the Indiana Risk Assessment System policy as adopted by the Judicial Conference of Indiana Board of Directors.
(4) Each participant shall be reassessed upon discharge from the problem-solving court.
(5) A copy of the summary page of the initial assessment and any reassessments conducted during problem-solving court participation shall be maintained in the participant’s case management file.
(6) The confidentiality of participant risk assessment information shall be maintained in accordance with the policy adopted by the Judicial Conference of Indiana Board of Directors.
(7) The results of a participant’s risk and needs assessments shall be provided to the treatment provider(s) providing services to that participant.
(c) A problem-solving court may develop and observe written policy and procedure for scheduling and conducting assessments utilizing any appropriate empirically validated assessment instrument to determine the needs of individuals referred and admitted to the court under a civil case number or the needs of individuals referred and admitted under a criminal case number or delinquency petition in addition to the IRAS/IYAS.