Risk Assessment

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts associated with risk assessment.

Risk Assessment

A systematic process to evaluate the likelihood that an individual may engage in future violence or criminal acts.

Static Risk Factors

Risk factors that do not fluctuate over time and are not changed by treatment, such as age at first arrest.

Dynamic Risk Factors

Risk factors that fluctuate over time and can be changed by treatment, such as antisocial attitudes and coping abilities.

True Positive

A correct prediction that occurs when a person predicted to be violent actually engages in violence.

True Negative

A correct prediction that occurs when a person predicted not to be violent does not engage in violent behavior.

False Positive

An incorrect prediction that occurs when a person is predicted to be violent but does not engage in violent behavior.

False Negative

An incorrect prediction that occurs when a person is predicted not to be violent but engages in violent behavior.

Actuarial Prediction

A method of risk assessment where risk factors are selected and combined based on their empirical relationship with a specific outcome.

Structured Professional Judgment

A risk assessment method where decisions are guided by a predetermined list of risk factors, with the evaluator's professional judgment applied.

Unstructured Clinical Judgment

Risk assessment characterized by significant professional discretion without standardized guidelines.

Base Rate Problem

The difficulty in making accurate predictions when the occurrence of an event is rare within a specific population.

Judgment Errors

Common mistakes or biases psychologists may make when conducting risk assessments, often due to reliance on heuristics.

Protective Factors

Factors that reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes, such as social support and positive engagements.

Historical Risk Factors

Past events experienced by an individual that increase the likelihood of future violence, such as a history of violence.

Dispositional Risk Factors

Internal traits and characteristics of individuals, such as age, gender, and personality traits that can influence the likelihood of violence.

Clinical Risk Factors

Symptoms and types of mental disorders that can contribute to the risk of violence.

Contextual Risk Factors

Environmental and situational elements that may elevate the risk of violent behavior, including access to weapons or victims.

Duty to Warn

The legal responsibility of mental health professionals to inform authorities if a patient poses a risk to themselves or others.

Baxstrom Study

Research reflecting on the dangerousness of mentally ill individuals, concluding that a low percentage reoffended once released.

Dixon Study

A study that examined the reoffending rates of forensic patients, leading to concerns about the accuracy of clinical predictions.

Smith v. Jones (1999)

A landmark case addressing the balance between attorney-client privilege and public safety in circumstances where a client poses a risk.

Recidivism

The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.

Desistance

The process of ceasing to engage in criminal behavior.

HCR-20

A structured professional judgment tool used to assess the risk of violent behavior in correctional and forensic settings.

Static-99

An actuarial tool designed to predict sexual recidivism based on static risk factors.

Indigenous Offenders

A demographic group that may not be adequately represented in traditional risk assessment tools, leading to questions about the applicability of such assessments.

Gender Differences in Criminality

Variations in crime types and rates between males and females, influencing the effectiveness of risk assessment tools.

Psychopathy

A personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits.

Mental Disorder

A psychological condition that may relate to an increased risk for violent behavior.

Social Support

The perception and actuality of being cared for, valued, and part of a social network.

Access to Weapons/Victims

Situational factors that increase the likelihood of future violent incidents.