Peer Relations

Assess these items with reference to the youth’s most recent past.  Most often questions should be assessed on the last 6 to 12 month time period.

1. Some delinquent acquaintances:  Check this item if some of the youth’s acquaintances/casual friends are known offenders or are known to the youth to engage in delinquent behavior. Siblings and other family members can also be considered. Check this item if the youth has co-defendants or has been placed in a residential facility or institution. If the youth is convicted of a drug offense, he/she must know other illegal drug users or suppliers to get drugs (a youth will have to be using drugs for the last year to apply this guideline), so the item should be checked.
2. Some delinquent friends:  Check this item if some of the youth’s close friends are known offenders or are known to the youth to engage in delinquent behavior.  “Some” can be one friend depending on the nature of the relationship (i.e. if the youth is spending excessive amounts of time with that person and/or that person exerts a significance over the youth’s behavior).  Siblings and other family members can also be considered. This is a default item. If this item is checked, then item 4A must also be checked.  
3. No or few positive acquaintances:  Check this item if the youth has no or very few acquaintances/casual friends who represent positive role models (e.g. a person who is doing well in school and is not associated with crime or alcohol/drug abuse).  To be considered a positive role model, the individual has not been involved in criminal activity for one year or longer.  Also, acquaintances that have never been in trouble need to be an active part of the youth’s life in order to count against this item.  If all or most of the youth’s acquaintances/casual friends are offenders, check this item.
4.   No or few positive friends:  Check this item if none or very few of the youth’s close friends are positive role models (e.g. a person who is doing well in school and is not associated with crime or alcohol/drug abuse).  To be considered a positive role model, the individual has not been involved in criminal activity for one year or longer.  Also, friends that have never been in trouble need to be an active part of the offender’s life in order to count against this item.  Do not check this item if the youth spends significant time with positive friends, respects their opinions and does not engage in antisocial behavior when with them.

(03-2007)