The Evaluation of Validity & Reliability of the Youth Justice Board's Assessment For Young Offenders

The introduction of ASSET in April 2000 meant that, for the first time, a common structured assessment profile was being used across the youth justice system in England and Wales. 

Its implementation was a key initiative of the newly established Youth Justice Board, who were keen to promote consistency of practice in the multi-disciplinary environment of youth offending teams (Yots) and saw high quality assessment practice as central to achieving the objective of reducing offending by young people. 

The design of ASSET was shaped by a review of the research literature on risk factors contributing to offending by young people and by discussion with a wide range of individuals and organisations working in the field of youth justice.