NCJ Number
152578
Date Published
1994
Length
94 pages
Annotation
This study examines the feasibility of developing and using a risk-prediction instrument in criminal justice decisionmaking to facilitate the identification of offenders at high risk for committing violent acts.
Abstract
One of the goals of the study was to review relevant literature on violent acts, violent offenders, and risk prediction to determine whether it is possible to better predict which offenders may commit violent acts. A second study goal was to determine which decision points in Delaware's criminal justice system use risk prediction instruments, from postarrest to prison release. A third study goal was to identify factors used by Delaware's postarrest decisionmakers to predict the offender's risk to the community. The final study goal was to assess the feasibility of validating a currently used risk- prediction instrument and developing a validated risk-prediction instrument. To pursue these goals, the Research Group interviewed key decisionmakers who represented postarrest decision points from pretrial through prison release. The interview process and research resulted in one major finding: There is an acute need to focus on juveniles in terms of programmatic services to address violence. The Research Group recommends actions in six major areas: programs, risk prediction, information needs, correlates of juvenile violence research, funding for research, and Federal program funding.