Ch10 Flashcards
What is the definition of Risk Assessment in forensic psychology?
A process that involves predicting future violence and managing risk factors.
How was risk viewed prior to the 1990s?
As a dichotomy: dangerous vs. not dangerous.
How is risk viewed now?
As a range – probability estimate that changes over time.
What should the critical function of risk assessments emphasize?
Violence prevention over violence prediction.
What are the two components of risk assessment?
- Prediction – identifying risk factors
- Management – reducing the level of risk
When are risk assessments conducted in civil settings?
- Civil commitment
- Child protection
- Immigration laws
- School and labour regulations
- Duty to warn
What is the duty to warn in mental health?
The obligation of mental health professionals to prevent violent acts by breaching confidentiality.
In which contexts are risk assessments conducted in criminal settings?
- Pretrial
- Sentencing
- Release
What outweighs attorney-client privilege in risk assessments?
Public safety.
What are the four types of prediction outcomes?
- True negative
- False negative
- False positive
- True positive
What is the base rate problem in risk assessment?
The percentage of people in a population who commit a criminal act; low base rates can increase false positives.
What historical studies highlighted the inaccuracies in risk assessment?
Baxstrom and Dixon studies.
What was the false positive rate in the Baxstrom and Dixon studies?
7-15% re-offended over a 3/4-year period.
What are the three weaknesses of research in risk assessment according to Monahan & Steadman?
- Limited number of risk factors studied
- Complexity of violence causation
- Measurement and definition issues of criterion variables
What is an illusory correlation?
The belief that a correlation exists between two events that are not actually correlated.
