Expanding on the factor structure and construct validity of the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability...

Research finds better reentry/recidivism program outcomes when individuals receive services that match their risks and needs. As such, the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) was developed to identify risk of future violence/offending, strengths, and targets for treatment. More empirical evidence is needed to characterize the psychometric properties of the START in general correctional settings before it may be used in practice. The current preregistered study explored the factor structures of the START strengths and vulnerabilities items, and reliability and construct validity of the factors, using 605 individuals (83% men, 68% White, 11% Hispanic) incarcerated in a county jail in the Southeastern United States. Exploratory factor analysis on a random half of the sample (N = 302) and confirmatory factor analysis on the other half (N = 303) identified the best fitting factor structures for the two item sets. Construct validity was tested through correlations between the START factor scores and external criteria indexing mental health, criminogenic risk, personal resources, and reentry/treatment attitudes. Exploratory factor analyses found four factors featuring well-being, externalizing, personal resources, and openness to change for the strengths and vulnerabilities items independently; in each case, confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the exploratory factor analysis-derived structure was superior to the unidimensional model. Convergent and discriminant validity were partially supported, with most factors correlating meaningfully with theoretically consistent external criteria. Results provided preliminary evidence of the multidimensionality of the START as used in an incarcerated sample. Further research replicating these factors and examining their predictive validity is needed to confirm their utility. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).