Detention Screening Instruments: Structure

Detention screening instruments inform the decision of whether or not to admit a youth into secure care while he or she awaits an initial custody hearing. The most common structure is a set of scored factors that sum to a recommendation. Not all instruments are scored, but that is the best structure for helping to achieve consistency and regularity. Based on the final score, detention screening instruments make recommendations to release the youth, release with conditions, or hold the youth in secure care. 

Detention screening instruments inform the decision of whether or not to admit a youth into secure care while he or she awaits an initial custody hearing. The most common structure is a set of scored factors that sum to a recommendation. Not all instruments are scored, but that is the best structure for helping to achieve consistency and regularity. Based on the final score, detention screening instruments make recommendations to release the youth, release with conditions, or hold the youth in secure care.