« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
Risk Assessment and Management of Serious Violent and Sexual Offenders: A review of current issues
CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSIONS
6.1 The effective and reliable assessment and management of sexual and violent offenders is a pressing issue. Both offence types, but particularly violent sexual crime and paedophilia, are attracting increasing public disquiet and media attention. In this climate it is essential that criminal justice, social work and health personnel can fulfil their duties to identify, assess and manage sexual and violent offenders. Combined actuarial and clinical methods can contribute to effective risk assessment, and numerous methods exist for both sexual and violent offenders. In selecting any method is it is essential that consideration be given to:
- transferability of the method to the field;
- the distinction between initial screening and individual assessment and case planning;
- specificity of the tool to the offender group and behaviour in question; and,
- reliability and validity of the tool.
(from Webster et al, 1995).
In addition, consideration should be given to the tool's use in guiding risk management plans, and in assisting any subsequent review process.
6.2 The RRASOR and the SACJ both have utility in initial screening for high-risk in sex offenders, and the SACJ has greater 'value-added' in terms of the dynamic factors. The newly introduced MATRIX 2000 has out-performed both tools and is subject to on-going evaluation.
6.3 Seven assessment tools in respect of violent offenders have been reviewed, covering actuarial, structured assessment tools, and multi-factoral and classification tree approaches. Of these the VRAG is the most accurate and most widely used, although other tools such as the HCR-20 provide added value in terms of identifying dynamic factors for case intervention and treatment.
6.4 In terms of risk management, there is increasing information on effective programmes and case management for both sexual and violent offenders. It is suggested that criminal justice, social work and health personnel are made familiar with such programmes and that due consideration is given to matching offenders to the most effective interventions, in addition to identifying more clearly those who require higher levels of community surveillance. Such staff have a key role in the effective implementation of integrated risk management strategies, combining both cognitive-behavioural programmes and intensive community supervision.
« Previous | Contents | Next »