Risk Assessment Flashcards
Why is the Tarasoff case significant to risk assessment?
Poddar told therapist two months prior he intended to harm Tarasoff however she was never notified of this threat and he was deemed safe. - new law
What is the big debate surrounding risk assessment?
Between clinical prediction and actuarial prediction. Clinical prediction= subjective, conclusion from human clinical judgment. Actuarial prediction= formal algorithmic objective procedure.
What are the characteristics of the first generation of risk assessment?
Subjective, intuitive, no assessment instruments. problem- psychologists accurate in no more than 1/3 predictions of violence over several years.
3 problems: no empirically supported risk factors, low base rates, doesnt account for contextual info
What are the characteristics of the second generation of risk assessment?
Objective, empirical- evaluate factors to predict reoffending. focus on statistical prediction. Decision making has fixed rules. Problem- static variables
Actuarial prediction- increased validity but bad generalisability
What are the findings of the Macarthur Violence risk assessment study?
violence predictors: abuse, prior violence, psychopathy= biggest factor,
What are the characteristics of the third generation of risk assessment?
“clinical actuarial”- clinical expertise and specific guidelines. Instruments rely on risk need responsively model
What is the risk need responsively model?
Risk- Criminal behaviour can be predicted and treatment should focus on high risk
Need- importance of criminogenic needs in design of treatment
Responsively- how treatment should be provided
What is the Good Lives Model?
People offend because attempting to secure a valued outcome for life- risk factors viewed as obstacles to fulfilling life.
What are features of good risk management?
Part of a larger treatment/supervision system
Individualised approach
Multivariate approaches to risk
Attend to time continuum (mindful of past, attending to present, preparing for future)
Institution/community transition (continuity in risk plan, communication between institution and community players)
