NCJ Number
212108
Journal
Criminal Justice: The International Journal of Policy and Practice Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2005 Pages: 379-406
Date Published
November 2005
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This study probed differences in opinion between two professional groups in South Africa concerning the danger posed by offenders and the influence of a number of risk factors in the decisions of these professionals.
Abstract
The accurate prediction of violent and criminal behavior has been a focal point of academic and professional research for years. Research has shown that risk factors for violence are multi-faceted and dynamic. The current research focuses on the factors that are thought of as important by magistrates and psychologists in South Africa in the course of their predictions on the dangerousness of offenders. Five case studies involving a risk of violence were presented to 85 magistrates and 52 psychologists via mailed questionnaire. Respondents were asked to assess the degree to which the offenders in the case studies posed a danger to the community and the role that violence risk factors had played in their decision. Results indicated that both groups of practitioners were unanimous in their assessment of the degree of danger posed by each offender and also agreed that certain variables were important predictors of future violence. The groups disagreed, however, on the importance that should be afforded to specific violence risk factors, such as age and absence of remorse. Finally, the opinions of the psychologists regarding violence risk factors were more heavily supported by the research literature than were the opinions of the magistrates. Future research in the same area is encouraged and considered important due to the rising rates of violence in South Africa. References