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3.8 - Risk and Dangerousness in Adults

from Part III - Assessment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2021

By
Martin Rettenberger ,
Grant T. Harris ,
Marnie E. Rice  and
Reinhard Eher
Edited by
Jennifer M. Brown  and
Miranda A. H. Horvath
Jennifer M. Brown
Affiliation:
London School of Economics and Political Science
Miranda A. H. Horvath
Affiliation:
University of Suffolk
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Summary

In order to assess the recidivism risk of adults who have been convicted of violent and/or sexual offenses, there exist two kinds of formal assessments: an actuarial risk assessment approach and a nonactuarial approach which is usually called “structured professional judgment” (SPJ). The actuarial risk assessment approach could be further divided into risk assessment instruments which are using predominantly static (i.e., biographical, criminological, and unchangeable) or dynamic (i.e., changeable by, for example, treatment-related processes) risk factors. The SPJ approach is a research-based professional guideline approach to decision-making which provides bench marks for integrating information from a broad range of risk factors associated with recidivism. These instruments are based on considerations of the relevant scientific, professional, and legal literature. The present chapter provides an overview about the main characteristics of both risk assessment approaches as well as about the internationally most commonly used and best validated actuarial and SPJ instruments.

Keywords

RiskRisk AssessmentViolent OffensesSexual OffensesRecidivism
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology , pp. 474 - 490
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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