Introduction Risk Assessment Process Risk Factors for Juvenile Sexual Offending Juvenile Risk Assessment Instruments Protective Factors in Assessments of Juvenile Risk Summary Notes References

It has been strongly asserted in both juvenile and adult risk assessment contexts that actuarial assessment has the capacity to predict risk more accurately than clinical assessment; however, this contention is not universally accepted and many have noted that both assessment models have strengths and weaknesses. Despite this ongoing debate, it is generally recognized that the exercise of unaided professional judgment by mental health practitioners is not a reliable or accurate means for assessing the potential for future dangerous behavior.