Arizona Youth Assessment System (AZYAS)

In 2011, the Juvenile Justice Services Division (JJSD) of the Arizona Supreme Court entered into a contract with the University of Cincinnati to adapt the Ohio Youth Assessment System (OYAS) for use in our state. The OYAS consists of six (6) unique tools, each designed specifically for each juncture of the juvenile justice system, which are: Diversion, Detention, Predisposition, Disposition, Residential and Re-Entry.

The JJSD implemented the Arizona Youth Assessment System (AZYAS) into all fifteen counties, and provides a disposition AZYAS score for youth committed to ADJC care when one is available. In 2012, the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) employees were trained and certified by University of Cincinnati staff to utilize AZYAS tools, with special emphasis upon the Residential and Re-entry tools. Since then, all youth placed in ADJC secure care receive an AZYAS Residential assessment and all youth placed on community supervision receive an AZYAS Re-entry assessment. These assessments are used to guide such things as case planning, treatment services, and level of supervision in the community.