The Defendant Questionnaire (DQ) is an adult (male and female) defendant assessment instrument or test. It is especially useful when evaluating substance (alcohol and other drugs) abusers. In addition, the DQ assesses violence proneness and stress management skills. The DQ is appropriate for misdemeanor and felony offenses.

It is important to know if the defendant was truthful while answering test questions. The DQ’s Truthfulness Scale measures denial, problem minimization and attempts to fake good or lie. It would be naïve to think that all defendants tell the truth when questioned about events that brought them to the attention of the courts.

The Alcohol Scale and Drugs Scale independently measure alcohol and drug use and as warranted, the severity of abuse. In addition, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) scale classifies substance abuser and substance dependant defendants. Inclusion of the “Severity” and “Classification” scales helps evaluators better understand the role of substance use/abuse in the alleged crime. And DQ attained score-related recommendations are American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) compatible.

The DQ also quantifies defendant violence (lethality) potential. The Violence Scale identifies people that are a danger to themselves and others. Whereas the Antisocial Scale identifies radical or nonconforming free thinkers, Extreme nonconformists can be nihilists, extremists, and anarchists. In other words the DQ quantifies violence (lethality) potential and antisocial beliefs. The Stress Coping Abilities Scale or Stress Management Scale measures the defendant’s ability to cope with or manage stress. This scale goes beyond establishing a person’s stress level, indeed it measures how well the defendant copes with or manages their stress. It is an understatement to say the Defendant Questionnaire is just another drug and alcohol test.