Probation Department Policy/Procedure Manual

2.1 Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scale (TCU-CTS)

Location CVA Admission / Onboarding
Section N/A
Subject 2.1 Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scale (TCU-CTS)
Purpose TThe TCU-CTS is an instrument developed to assess changes in criminal thinking as a result of intervention, services, and supports over time.
Effective Date 7/22/2019 12:00 AM
Previous Effective Date 1/1/0001 12:00 AM

Overview

The TCU-CTS is best administered by having a proctor read the items aloud in order to avoid literacy and language challenges.  It includes six scales which represent concepts with special significance in treatment settings for correctional populations. The scales are as follows: Entitlement, Justification, Personal Irresponsibility, Power Orientation, Cold Heartedness, and Criminal Rationalization

Specific Procedure

  1. Application
    1. A Pre TCU-CTS shall be administered to all youth ordered into CVA upon their initial commitment (not applicable for youth who reenter CVA) and prior to their participation in the CVA Core Curriculum
    2. A Post TCU-CTS shall be administered to all youth ordered into CVA who participated in a Pre TCU-CTS, have completed the CVA Core Curriculum, and are preparing to transition out of custody
  2. Testing
    1. The assigned DPO shall:
      1. Administer the TCU-CTS using the TCU-CTS Questionnaire

F: Drive > Coastal Valley Academy > Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scale (TCU-CTS) > TCU-CTS Questionnaire

  1. Fill out TCU-CTS Questionnaire header, including designating it as either a Pre or Post screening

 

  1. Proctor the screening by reading the questions aloud to the youth

 

  1. Record the youth’s answers on the TCU-CTS Questionnaire

 

  1. Clarify language within the TCU-CTS questions as needed

 

  1. Scoring

 

  1. The assigned DPO shall:

 

  1. Enter the TCU-CTS Questionnaire results on a TCU-CTS Scoring Sheet and print the results

F: Drive > Coastal Valley Academy > Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scale (TCU-CTS) > TCU-CTS Scoring Sheet

 

  1. Give the hand scored TCU-CTS Questionnaire and printed TCU-CTS Scoring Sheet to the CVA Legal Clerk

 

  1. Upon receipt of a TCU-CTS Questionnaire and TCU-CTS Scoring Sheet the CVA Legal Clerk shall:

 

  1. Enter the hand scored TCU-CTS Questionnaire into Monitor

Youth’s open supervision event > Client > Assessment > New > TCU-CTS Questionnaire

 

  1. Enter the printed TCU-CTS Excel Scoring Sheet into Monitor

Youth’s open supervision event > Client > Assessment > New > TCU-CTS Scores

 

  1. Once the TCU-CTS Scores have been saved, enter the Total Average, number of scales noted as being high out of the possible (6) six scales, and list the scales noted as being high in the Result option in Monitor

Youth’s open supervision event > Client > Assessment > List > TCU-CTS Scores > Result

 

  1. Scan the hand scored TCU-CTS Questionnaire and save it in the TCU-CTS Questionnaire Folder

F: Drive > Coastal Valley Academy > Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scale (TCU-CTS) > TCU-CTS Questionnaires

 

  1. Save as youth’s last name, first name, date of screening, and indicate Pre or Post (Last, First MM-DD-YY -Pre/-Post)

 

  1. Scan the printed TCU-CTS Scoring Sheet and save it in the TCU-CTS Scores Folder

F: Drive > Coastal Valley Academy > Texas Christian University Criminal Thinking Scale (TCU-CTS) > TCU-CTS Scores

 

  1. Save as youth’s last name, first name, date of screening, and indicate Pre or Post (Last, First MM-DD-YY -Pre/-Post)

 

  1. Once the scanned TCU-CTS Questionnaire and TCU-CTS Scoring Sheet have been saved in the “F” Drive and the scores recorded in Monitor, the TCU-CTS Questionnaire & Scoring Sheeting shall be shredded