This publication discusses adult sex offender risk assessment, based on the SOMAPI (Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative) Report.
This one-page summary published by Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) presents highlights of the SOMAPI (Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative) Report regarding adult sex offender risk assessment. The purposes of risk assessment span the spectrum of the criminal justice system. Empirically derived actuarial approaches are more accurate than unstructured professional judgment in assessing risk. There is no single risk factor that best predicts recidivism, and there is no single best risk assessment instrument. Risk assessment instruments that incorporate both static and dynamic risk factors are becoming more prevalent and serve a dual purpose. Training and monitoring is needed to ensure that risk assessment results are accurate and used appropriately. Research has yet to identify a single “best” risk assessment instrument. Based on current knowledge, using science-based, actuarial methods to assess sex offender risk is advisable. Training and monitoring of evaluators is needed to ensure that risk assessment procedures and instruments are used appropriately and with integrity.