Psychometric Properties of the LS/CMI Among Men Under Correctional Supervision in New Zealand

Abstract

We examined the psychometric properties, particularly predictive accuracy, of the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) in a sample of 772 men under the management of the New Zealand Department of Corrections. Over a one-year fixed follow-up, domain and total LS/CMI scores demonstrated low to moderate discriminative accuracy, and significant incremental validity beyond a routinely assessed static risk measure, for general and violent recidivism. We found no significant differences in AUC values (i.e., discrimination) or general recidivism rates across risk categories (i.e., calibration) for NZ Māori (i.e., Indigenous) and NZ European subgroups. Assessments completed by group facilitators demonstrated significantly lower discriminative accuracy than assessments completed by psychologists, who generally have higher qualification levels and greater experience in risk assessment. These results provide further evidence of the generalizability of the LS/CMI and its component risk factors, including with Indigenous peoples, while suggesting further attention to assessor characteristics is warranted.