9. Risk assessment

Question 1

What is risk management?

Answer 1

Methods and techniques used to limit the level of risk to the public

Question 2

What is risk assessment/prediction?

Answer 2

Methods and techniques used to limit the level of risk to the public
AND
provide less restrictive conditions for offenders

Question 3

Risk prediction Vs. Risk management: Risk prediction

Answer 3

Static factors (don’t change):

• History of violence
• Employment instability
• Age of violence onset
• Mental health diagnosis
• Psychopathy

Question 4

Risk prediction Vs. Risk management: Risk management

Answer 4

Dynamic factors (change over time):

• Substance/alcohol use
• Attitudes towards violence (manipulated by treatment)
• Attitudes consistent with crime
• Emotional/supportive relatonships
• Employment/education

Dynamic factors have only recently been integrated into risk assessments

Question 5

Risk management

Answer 5

Reduces the likelihood of aggression
Focuses on dynamic variables that can change in order to reduce violence
Involves the continuous assessment of individuals once released by a team of practitioners
A reminder that assessment should be multi-faceted in terms of both prediction and process

Question 6

Risk factors

Answer 6

FAMILY - social learning theory
PEER - behaviour of peers
SCHOOL - stability, ability and engagement
SOCIOECONOMIC - higher risk of offending when low SES

Question 7

Forensic risk assessment

Answer 7

Duty of care - to public and offenders (protect rights)

Ethical responsibility

Question 8

Types of decisions

Answer 8

Should someone be released early?
Should they be allowed to live in the community?

• Conditions of release

Question 9

The Tarasoff Decision

Answer 9

Tatiana Tarasoff’s (victim of murder) parents took legal action
Duty to inform
Threats needed to be evaluated in terms of potential for attack

Question 10

Assessing risk components

Answer 10

Nature
Severity
Frequency
Imminence
Likelihood