NCJ Number
181522
Journal
Law and Human Behavior Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2000 Pages: 119-136
Editor(s)
Richard L. Wiener
Date Published
February 2000
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study compares the predictive accuracy of three sex offender risk-assessment measures.
Abstract
The study compared the predictive accuracy of the RRASOR and a new scale, Static-99, created by combining the items from the RRASOR and SACJ-Min. Predictive accuracy was tested using four diverse datasets drawn from Canada and the United Kingdom (total n = 1,301). The RRASOR and the SACJ-Min showed roughly equivalent predictive accuracy and the combination of the two scales was more accurate than either original scale. Static-99 showed moderate predictive accuracy for both sexual recidivism and violent (including sexual) recidivism. The variation in the predictive accuracy of Static-99 across the four samples was no more than would be expected by chance. The article describes these results as a serious challenge to skeptics who claim that sexual recidivism cannot be predicted with sufficient accuracy to be worthy of consideration in applied contexts. There is sufficient evidence to indicate that empirically based risk assessments can meaningfully predict the risk for sexual offense recidivism. Tables, figures, notes, references, appendix