What do we mean by…
Violence → actual/attempted/threatened physical harm of another person
● verbal aggression - if it causes victim fear of physical safety
● behaviour cannot be accidental
● behaviour - intent - impact
Risk → risk is the probability or likelihood of a particular even occurring
● risk of → harm to others (general public or specific victim(s)), harm to self, harm to staff
● dimensions of risk → nature, probability or frequency, immediacy, severity
● worst case is imminent severe risk
Risk assessment…
● gathering and integrating information for making decisions
● the process of identifying risks (presence, relevance)
● usually systematic and purpose-driven
Risk management…
● taking action to gain or maintain control
● the process of mitigating risk
● strategic plan, but dependent on logistics - availability of programs/resources that can help the
offender
Our natural propensity for violence
Humans have an innate capacity for violence - evolutionary, fight for survival
Violence is unlearned through socialisation (Fonaghy, 2004) - repressed through learning, values, etc.
● otherwise, it may be a viable response option
What influences (risk factors) are likely to be relevant to any decision to be violent?
● growing up in a household with violence/neglect/abuse
● MAOA gene, predisposition
● anger management, temperament inherited (biological)
● defense, fighting back when in danger/perceived danger
● family criminality
● social norms (incl. anti-social associates)
● traumatic experiences
● personality
● mental disorder
, ● physical state/brain impairment
Note for risk assessment:
● also consider known correlates of offending (e.g Farrington, 2003), and offence group
typologies e.g sex offenders (Ward & Siegert, 2002), domestic abuse (Holzworth-Munroe &
Stuart, 1994), fire-setters/arsonists (Gannon et al., 2012)
Risk & Needs
Why do we need to assess risk?
It informs organisational decision-making (see how to prevent re-offending)
● sentencing
● preventative detention (MHA)
● security categorisation
● cell sharing
● parole release
● dosage of interventions
● risk management in the community
It is the cornerstone of effective (incl. ethical) case management
● Who is in most need for services?
● What level of restriction on the offender’s liberty is the minimum required to manage that
risk?
● Which services are needed?
● What are the implications for victim safety planning?
Risk assessment and offender management
Watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1rO92yZlw4
Intensity of service delivery
Important to ‘match’ up level of risk with intensity of (appropriate) treatment - high risk people have
more intense service delivery
for low risk offenders it can actually be better to do minimal intervention/withdrawal services
Bonta et al. (2000)
● low risk offenders receiving intensive treatment 32% re-offended
● low risk offenders receiving minimal treatment 15% re-offended
(See also e.g Cohen et al., 2016; Lovins et al., 2009)
Violence → actual/attempted/threatened physical harm of another person
● verbal aggression - if it causes victim fear of physical safety
● behaviour cannot be accidental
● behaviour - intent - impact
Risk → risk is the probability or likelihood of a particular even occurring
● risk of → harm to others (general public or specific victim(s)), harm to self, harm to staff
● dimensions of risk → nature, probability or frequency, immediacy, severity
● worst case is imminent severe risk
Risk assessment…
● gathering and integrating information for making decisions
● the process of identifying risks (presence, relevance)
● usually systematic and purpose-driven
Risk management…
● taking action to gain or maintain control
● the process of mitigating risk
● strategic plan, but dependent on logistics - availability of programs/resources that can help the
offender
Our natural propensity for violence
Humans have an innate capacity for violence - evolutionary, fight for survival
Violence is unlearned through socialisation (Fonaghy, 2004) - repressed through learning, values, etc.
● otherwise, it may be a viable response option
What influences (risk factors) are likely to be relevant to any decision to be violent?
● growing up in a household with violence/neglect/abuse
● MAOA gene, predisposition
● anger management, temperament inherited (biological)
● defense, fighting back when in danger/perceived danger
● family criminality
● social norms (incl. anti-social associates)
● traumatic experiences
● personality
● mental disorder
, ● physical state/brain impairment
Note for risk assessment:
● also consider known correlates of offending (e.g Farrington, 2003), and offence group
typologies e.g sex offenders (Ward & Siegert, 2002), domestic abuse (Holzworth-Munroe &
Stuart, 1994), fire-setters/arsonists (Gannon et al., 2012)
Risk & Needs
Why do we need to assess risk?
It informs organisational decision-making (see how to prevent re-offending)
● sentencing
● preventative detention (MHA)
● security categorisation
● cell sharing
● parole release
● dosage of interventions
● risk management in the community
It is the cornerstone of effective (incl. ethical) case management
● Who is in most need for services?
● What level of restriction on the offender’s liberty is the minimum required to manage that
risk?
● Which services are needed?
● What are the implications for victim safety planning?
Risk assessment and offender management
Watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1rO92yZlw4
Intensity of service delivery
Important to ‘match’ up level of risk with intensity of (appropriate) treatment - high risk people have
more intense service delivery
for low risk offenders it can actually be better to do minimal intervention/withdrawal services
Bonta et al. (2000)
● low risk offenders receiving intensive treatment 32% re-offended
● low risk offenders receiving minimal treatment 15% re-offended
(See also e.g Cohen et al., 2016; Lovins et al., 2009)
