Arkansas § 9-27-368 - Risk and needs assessments.

§ 9-27-368. Risk and needs assessments.

The Administrative Office of the Courts shall work with the circuit courts to implement a validated risk and needs assessment that shall be provided to the juvenile divisions of the circuit courts to be used at delinquency disposition hearings and to aid in juvenile treatment plans. A juvenile division circuit court judge shall have the discretion to designate either a trained juvenile intake or probation officer to conduct the validated risk and needs assessment in the court of the circuit court judge. The juvenile intake or probation officer conducting the risk and needs assessment shall interview the juvenile and the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian. Information gathered by the juvenile intake or probation officer during the intake process implemented to complete the risk and needs assessment shall be confidential and shall not be used against the juvenile in the delinquency proceeding. The juvenile intake or probation officer conducting the risk and needs assessment shall not discuss any offense for which the juvenile is currently charged during the intake assessment. A risk and needs assessment prepared for a delinquency disposition hearing shall be provided to the necessary parties seven (7) days in advance and presented to the court at the disposition hearing. The court may order an updated risk and needs assessment that should be updated when there are significant changes in the juvenile's treatment plan. Any revisions or updates to the risk and needs assessment shall be provided to the necessary parties seven (7) days in advance of a court hearing in the delinquency proceeding. Juvenile risk and needs assessments may be provided to the Division of Youth Services personnel, service providers, and other necessary persons designated by the court to provide appropriate treatment and case plan services.