NCJ Number
242922
Date Published
December 2008
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This document presents a review of intimate partner violence risk assessment tools used by many jurisdictions across Canada.
Abstract
This document presents a review of intimate partner violence risk assessment tools used by many jurisdictions in Canada to assess the risk that offenders pose for re-offending. The paper begins with a discussion of risk assessment, the tools used in the assessment, and the use of these tools in the criminal justice system. It is noted that the majority of the tools used in a criminal justice setting were "originally developed by forensic mental health professionals to be used in forensic mental health settings," but that the use of these tools has continued to grow and they are now being used in other forensic areas. This section is followed by a discussion of 1) intimate partner violence and the use of risk assessment tools to assess the risk of reoffending by perpetrators in these specific cases, and 2) users of intimate partner violence risk assessment tools and the settings in which they are used. The different types of risk assessment tools for use in cases of intimate partner violence are discussed and include unstructured clinical decision making, structured clinical judgment, the actuarial approach, and consultation with the victim. The last two sections of the review discuss factors that should be considered when determining which risk assessment tool to use, and the strengths and limitations of the tools. As noted, there are many purposes for using intimate partner violence risk assessment tools in the criminal justice system, and a number of factors that should be considered when choosing which tool or approach to use in these cases. References and appendix