Although the ACDI-Corrections Version II is a juvenile probationer test and the SAQ-Adult Probation III is an adult probationer test, these two probationer assessment instruments or tests have several unique features in common. These "shared" unique features are discussed prior to each test's individual presentation.

Truthfulness Scale: Both of these probationer tests have a Truthfulness Scale that determines how truthful the probationer was while completing the test. This scale identifies denial, defensiveness, attempts to "fake good" or lie, and reading impaired probationers. A growing number of probation officers, judges and assessors are becoming aware of the importance of Truthfulness Scales. When given a choice, experienced staff prefer using tests that contain Truthfulness Scales. Both the ACDI- Corrections Version II and the SAQ - Adult Probation III have Truthfulness Scales built-in.

Tests Designed Specifically for Probationer Assessment: Risk & Needs psychologists believe strongly in different tests for different client populations and different assessment purposes. That is why Risk & Needs offers around 40 different tests on its www.riskandneeds.com website. Both the ACDI- Corrections Version II and the SAQ- Adult Probation III were developed specifically for probationer populations. That is why these two tests have "probation scales" (Truthfulness, Alcohol, Drugs, Violence (Lethality) and Stress Handling Abilities) in common. Yet The demarcation between juveniles and adult required some scale individualization. For example, the juvenile test incorporates a Distress Scale and Adjustment Scale, whereas the adult test incorporates an Antisocial Scale and Aggressiveness Scale. Both the ACDI- Corrections Version II and the SAQ-Adult Probation III have been used in misdemeanor and felony cases.

Advantages of Screening: Probationer screening and assessment tests filter out individuals with serious problems that warrant increased supervision or referral. This filtering system works as follows:

Reference to the above table shows a "problem" is not identified until a scale score is at the 70th percentile or higher. These risk range percentages are based upon the thousands of juvenile and adult probationers that have been tested with the ACDI-Corrections Version II and the SAQ-Adult Probation III.

Probation Departments, courts and mental health professionals can now refer probationers with identified problems to appropriate intervention and treatment programs. Policy might refer practitioners with "severe problems" (11 percent of those screened) for additional services. Budgeting savings (dollars) would be large with no compromises in needy people receiving appropriate care.

Violence (Lethality) Scale: Measures the probationer's (adult and juvenile) propensity for using force to injure, damage or destroy. The Violence Scale identifies probationers that are a danger to self and others. A Violence (Lethality) Scale is included in both the ACDI-Corrections Version II and the SAQ - Probation III. Each of these Violence Scales has empirically demonstrated reliability, validity and accuracy. These Violence Scales measure the severity of probationer's violence potential. This enables evaluators to match violence severity with intervention or treatment program intensity. We now know that matching problem severity with program intensity is very important for treatment effectiveness and success.

Stress Coping Abilities Scale: This scale measures how well the probationer handles or copes with stress, tension and pressure. Stress affects probationer's adjustment and mental health. Stress exacerbates emotional and mental health symptomotology. The Stress Coping Abilities Scale is a non - introversive way to screen established (diagnosable) mental health problems. A Stress Coping Abilities Scale score at or above the 90th percentile indicates the presence of a diagnosable mental health problem.

Confidentiality: With Risk & Needs 25 or 50 test diskettes staff delete probationer names from used diskettes prior to returning them. This proprietary name deletion procedure involves just a few key strokes. Once probationer names are deleted they are gone and cannot be retrieved. Deleting names does not delete demographics and test data which is used in subsequent research. This name deletion procedure insures probationer confidentiality and full compliance with HIPAA (federal regulation 45 C.F.R. 164.501). And when you use our online (internet) testing platform www.online-testing.com the probationer name deletion procedure is even easier.

Four ways to Administer These Tests: These four options include: 1. Paper Pencil test booklet is the most popular test administration procedure. English and Spanish test booklets are available. Paper-pencil testing enables "group-testing." 2. Tests can be given directly on the computer screen. Some departments dedicate a computer for on-screen testing. 3. Human Voice Audio is available and involves a computer and headphones. Questions and answers are read to the probationer in English or Spanish. This procedure helps resolve reading impairments and cultural differences. And 4. Online (internet) testing at our internet testing platform www.online-testing.com. These four test administration alternatives are discussed on the ACDI - Corrections Version II and SAQ - Adult Probation III webpages in the www.riskandneeds.com website.

Cost (Test Unit Fee): Risk & Needs standard test unit fee is $8.00 per test (U.S. currency). However volume discounts are available. Departments, agencies, groups and evaluators that administer 500 or more tests a year are entitled to the $7.50 per test volume discount (U.S. currency). Professional association discounts ($7.00 per test) are available and discussed on the Risk & Needs Cost page. Statewide testing that involves Risk & Needs tests qualify for an additional volume discount. Cost and volume discounts are discussed on our www.riskandneeds.com website.

Online (Internet) Testing: Both the ACDI-Corrections Version II and the SAQ-Adult Probation III are available on Professional Online Testing Solutions, Inc. online (internet) testing platform www.online-testing.com. This is a convenient, affordable, secure and accurate solution for today's juvenile and adult Probation Departments. The cost (test unit fee) information quoted in this website will apply to probation departments that use our online (internet) testing platform for their ACDI-Corrections Version II and/or SAQ - Adult Probation III testing.

Reliability, Validity and Accuracy: Both the ACDI - Corrections Version II and the SAQ - Adult Probation III have impressive empirically based reliability, validity and accuracy. These statistics are reported in each test's "Inventory of Scientific Findings" which can be provided upon request. Both of these tests webpages are easily accessible in www.riskandneeds.com and contain extensive test-related research.

Reading Impaired Assessment: Reading impaired probationers represent 20+ percent of probationers tested. To address this problem Risk & Needs developed a proprietary program called "Human Voice Audio."

Human Voice Audio: This program is available in English and Spanish. Human Voice Audio helps resolve reading problems along with cultural difference problems. Passive vocabularies (hearing) are often greater than a person's active (speaking) vocabulary. Hearing items read often helps reduce both cultural and communication problems. "Human Voice Audio" requires a computer, earphones and simple instructions regarding the up-down arrow keys on the computer keyboard. Human Voice Audio is discussed in the www.riskandneeds.com website.

Free Annual Summary Reports: Risk & Needs utilizes the built-in ACDI - Corrections Version II and the SAQ - Adult Probation III built - in database for statistical analysis and testing program summary. Annual Summary Reports are prepared for departments that administer 500 or more test a year. These reports are provided free as a professional courtesy. Click on this Annual Summary Report link to review an example Annual Summary Report.

The ACDI - Corrections Version II is a comprehensive (male and female) juvenile probationer test. Perhaps the best source of ACDI - Corrections Version II information is its webpage on www.riskandneeds.com. Upon entering this website there are navigational links in the left margin of each page. Under "Juvenile Tests" click on "Alphabetically, Listed" and scroll down to the ACDI - Corrections Version II. The acronym ACDI stands for Adolescent Chemical Dependency Inventory.

The ACDI - Corrections Version II webpage describes the test, discusses its unique features, introduces scale score interpretation and links to an example report.

Applications: ACDI - Corrections Version II applications include juvenile probation departments; family, juvenile and drug courts; and counseling / treatment programs that work with juvenile offenders. Some mental health professionals use the ACDI - Corrections Version II during intake.

Description: The ACDI - Corrections Version II consists of 140 items and takes 25 to 30 minutes to complete. The ACDI - Corrections Version II has seven (7) scales or measures. These scales (measures) include:

1. Truthfulness Scale: Measures the juvenile's truthfulness while completing the test. This scale identifies denial, defensiveness, guardedness, problem minimization and attempts to "fake good" or lie. It would be naïve to think that juveniles, particularly in court and probation settings, answer all assessment questions truthfully.

2. Alcohol Scale: Measures alcohol use and the severity of abuse. Alcohol refers to beer, wine and other liquors. By measuring "severity" evaluators can match problem severity with appropriate levels of treatment intensity.

3. Drugs Scale: Measures illicit drug use and the severity of abuse. Drugs refers to marijuana, crack, cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, barbiturates, heroin, etc. This scale is independent of the Alcohol Scale.

4. Violence (Lethality) Scale: Measures the used force to injure damage or destroy. This scale identifies the youth's danger to self and others. Violence incorporates verbal as well as physical acting out.

5. Distress Scale: Measures strain imposed by pain, worry, anxiety, depression and physical torment or suffering. Distress is the most common reason for juveniles to seek counseling

6. Adjustment Scale: Measures the youth's ability to adapt, conform and function. This scale recognizes personal and social stressors at home at school and in authority relationships. It incorporates personal and social forces involved in adapting to one's environment.

7. Stress Coping Abilities Scale: Measures the youth's ability to cope with stress, anxiety, and pressure. Stress exacerbates symptoms of emotional and mental health problems. This scale is a non-introversive way to screen for established (diagnosable) emotional and mental health disorders.

Reliability, Validity and Accuracy: The ACDI - Corrections Version II has a built-in database that insures inclusion of all tests administered in confidential (no names manner). Over 80,000 juveniles' test data are represented in the ACDI - Corrections Version II database. These reliability, validity and accuracy research studies are reported in the "ACDI: An Inventory of Scientific Findings" research document. And annual database analysis demonstrates that ACDI - Corrections Version II scales have high reliability coefficients with minimal interscale correlations. Empirically demonstrated research shows the ACDI - Corrections Version II is a reliable, valid and accurate test.

ACDI - Corrections Version II research extends over 15 years. Many studies have been conducted on thousands of juvenile probationers using several validation methods. Early studies used criterion measures and we validated with other tests, e.g., Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) L and F - scales, 16PF, Juvenile Profile, MMPI Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, etc. The ACDI-Corrections Version II has empirically demonstrated reliability validity and accuracy.

Scale Score Interpretation: The following table is a starting point for interpreting ACDI - Corrections Version II scale scores.

A problem is not identified until a scale score is at the 70th percentile or higher. Severe Problems are identified by scale scores at or above the 90th percentile. Severe problem scores represent the highest eleven (11%) percent of juveniles evaluated with the ACDI Corrections Version II. The ACDI Corrections Version II has been standardized upon thousands of juvenile probationers. And this normative sample continues to expand with each ACDI-Corrections Version II test that is administered.

There are several levels of ACDI Corrections Version II scale score interpretation ranging from viewing the ACDI Corrections Version II as a self-report to interpreting scale evaluations and scale interrelationships. "Scale Interpretation" is discussed on the ACDI Corrections Version II webpage in the www.riskandneeds.com website.

ACDI Corrections Version II scales measure the "severity" of problems. This enables evaluators to match problem "severity" with intervention/treatment "intensity." This is an important factor in intervention / treatment effectiveness, i.e., when problems are identified - problem severity is matched to intervention / treatment intensity.

ACDI Corrections Version II scale interpretation is discussed on the ACDI Corrections Version II webpage in the www.riskandneeds.com website. This "scale interpretation" discussion occupies the last twenty-five (25%) percent of the ACDI-Corrections Version II webpage.

Why Use the ACDI-Corrections Version II? Early detection of troubled youths' problems facilitates quicker intervention and treatment. When problems exist the ACDI-Corrections Version II scales measure their severity. This enables staff to properly match problem severity with appropriate treatment intensity. This match-severity & intensity - is an important factor in intervention / treatment effectiveness. In other words, this test or screening information helps in deciding upon levels of supervision, counseling, treatment, probation status and other incarceration alternatives. The ACDI-Corrections Version II's seven (7) scales (measures) acquire a vast amount of important information at one thirty (30) minute session. In many ways the ACDI-Corrections Version II report is like getting a second opinion. An opinion that can augment, but not replace, available history, records and staff judgment. And now the ACDI-Corrections Version II is available on diskettes (www.riskandneeds.com) and on our internet testing platform (www.online-testing.com).

The SAQ - Adult Probation III is designed for adult (male and female) probationer assessment and has been standardized on over 125,000 probationers. The SAQ - Adult Probation III's webpage in www.riskandneeds.com is the best single source of information on this probationer test. Upon entering this website there are navigational links in the left margin of each page. under "Adult Tests" click on "Alphabetically Listed" and scroll down to the SAQ - Adult Probation III. The acronym SAQ stands for Substance Abuse Questionnaire.

The SAQ - Adult Probation III webpage describes the test, discusses its unique features, introduces scale score interpretation and links to an example report.

Applications: SAQ - Adult Probation III applications include adult probation departments; courts; counseling and treatment programs; and mental health professionals intake.

Description: The SAQ - Adult Probation III has 149 items and takes 30 minutes to complete. The SAQ - Adult Probation III has seven (7) scales (measures). These scales (measures) include:

1. Truthfulness Scale: Determines how honest the probationer was while completing the SAQ - Adult Probation III. This scale identifies denial, defensiveness, guardedness, problem minimization and attempts to "fake good" or lie. It would be naïve to think that probationers, particularly in court and probation settings, answer all assessment questions honestly.

2. Alcohol Scale: Measures alcohol (beer, whine, and other liquor) use and the severity of abuse. Measuring the "severity" of abuse enables evaluators to match problem severity with treatment intensity, which is very important when making intervention or treatment referrals.

3. Drugs Scale: Measures illicit drug use and the severity of abuse. Drugs refers to marijuana, crack, cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, barbiturates, heroin, etc. This scale is independent of the Alcohol Scale.

4. Violence (Lethality) Scale: Measures the use of force to injure, damage or destroy. The Violence Scale identifies people that are a danger to themselves and others. Violence incorporates physical, emotional and verbal abuse.

5. Antisocial Scale: Measures aggressive, impulsive and sometimes violent behavior that opposes society and many of its moral codes. This behavior includes socially destructive and antisocial acts often characterized by a lack of responsibility, poor judgment and impaired moral values.

6. Aggressiveness Scale: Measures strong self-assertiveness, social dominance and tendency toward hostility. These individuals can be persistent and verbally or even physically assaultive. Aggressive individuals typically lack empathy.

7. Stress Coping Abilities Scale: Measures ones ability to cope effectively with tension, stress, and pressure. Stress exacerbates emotional and mental health problems. This scale is a non-introversive way of screening the presence of serious (diagnosable) mental health problems.

Research: The SAQ - Adult Probation III has a built-in database that insures inclusion of all test data. Over 125,000 probationer's test data are in this database. SAQ - Adult Probation III reliability, validity and accuracy research is reported in the "SAQ: Inventory of Scientific Findings" document. Annual database analysis has shown that SAQ - Adult Probation III scales maintain high reliability, validity and accuracy coefficients. An SAQ - Adult Probation III research is discussed in its webpage on the www.riskandneeds.com website.

Scale score Interpretation: The following table is a starting point for interpreting SAQ - Adult Probation III scale scores.

A problem is not identified until a scale score is at the 70th percentile or higher. Severe Problems are identified by scale scores at or above the 90th percentile. Severe Problem scores represent the highest eleven (11%) percent of probationer's evaluated with the SAQ - Adult Probation III. The SAQ - Adult Probation III has been standardized on thousands of probationers.

There are several levels of SAQ - Adult Probation III scale score interpretation ranging from viewing the SAQ - Adult Probation III as a self-report to interpreting scale elevations and scale interrelationships. "Scale interpretation" is discussed on the SAQ - Adult Probation III webpage in the www.riskandneeds.com website. This scale score interpretation discussion includes the last twenty (20%) percent of the SAQ - Adult Probation III webpage.

Why Use the SAQ - Adult Probation III? The SAQ - Adult Probation III meets and exceeds most probationer screening criteria. It is widely used in U.S. adult probation departments. The SAQ - Adult Probation III has repeatedly shown to be reliable, valid and accurate. It is a research based assessment instrument or test.

Probationer's SAQ - Adult Probation III reports are comprehensive (7 scales), timely (available in 2 ½ minutes from data entry), readable and helpful. Each of the seven SAQ - Adult Probation III scales (measures) represent important areas of inquiry. When problems are present, measuring their "severity" enables probation officers to match problem severity with treatment "intensity." This "match" is very important to intervention and treatment effectiveness. And now the SAQ - Adult Probation III is available on diskettes (www.riskandneeds.com) and on our internet testing platform (www.online-testing.com)