Using behavioural manifestations of dynamic risk factors to assess change in incarcerated sexual offenders

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Tamara Sweller ◽  
◽  
Stuart Thomas ◽  
Michael Daffern ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Psychological Adjustment ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Change Over Time ◽  
Dynamic Risk Factors ◽  
Dynamic Risk ◽  
Measure Change ◽  
Over Time

This study investigated change in behavioural manifestations of dynamic risk factors, in a sample of adult male sexual offenders who completed a custody-based treatment program. A checklist was developed to monitor and determine change in the frequency of behavioural manifestations of dynamic risk factors and prosocial equivalent behaviours. Offenders and custodial staff completed the checklist once each week for the duration of the offender’s period of treatment (range = 26-69 weeks, M = 45). Checklist scores were aggregated into domains based on the organisation of the Risk for Sexual Violence Protocol (Psychological Adjustment; Social Adjustment; Mental Disorder; Manageability). Change over time for individuals and the group was evaluated. Results showed an increase in positive behaviour in all domains, but there was only a decrease in risk-related manifestations in Psychological Adjustment, and this was only according to offenders. Offender self-report and staff observations were compared, revealing different perceptions of change. Using a behavioural checklist that incorporates self-report and observer data to measure change may provide a comprehensive measure of change over time.

scholarly journals A Dynamic Risk Factors–Based Typology of Sexual Offenders

2016 ◽  
Vol 61 (14) ◽  
pp. 1623-1647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Martínez-Catena ◽  
Santiago Redondo ◽  
Nina Frerich ◽  
Anthony R. Beech
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Child Molesters ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Correctional Facilities ◽  
Dynamic Risk Factors ◽  
Dynamic Risk ◽  
Criminogenic Needs ◽  
The One

The purpose of this article was to develop an Spanish psychometric typology of sexual offenders taking into account dynamic risk factors. The sample comprised 94 sex offenders imprisoned in Spain (52 rapists and 42 child molesters). The analysis yielded two different offender categories based on the subjects’ criminogenic needs level (high and low). The results also showed that social desirability has a strong influence on the developed typologies, whereas the offence type, sociodemographic characteristics, and criminal history do not. A dynamic risk factors typology, such as the one proposed here, could help criminal and correctional facilities to fulfill their remit. It could also be useful for linking treatment intensity to offenders’ criminogenic needs, as well as providing a platform for recidivism risk assessments.

Change in Level of Service Inventory–Ontario Revised (LSI-OR) Risk Scores Over Time: An Examination of Overall Growth Curves and Subscale-Dependent Growth Curves

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (14) ◽  
pp. 1606-1622 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Day ◽  
Holly A. Wilson ◽  
Kelly Bodwin ◽  
Candice M. Monson
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Score ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Criminal History ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Level Of Service ◽  
Dynamic Risk Factors ◽  
Dynamic Risk ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Overall Risk

The dynamic nature of risk to re-offend is an important issue in the management of offenders and has stimulated extensive research into dynamic risk factors that can alter an individual’s overall risk to re-offend if addressed. However, few studies have examined the relative importance of these dynamic risk factors, complicating the task of developing case management and treatment plans that will effect the most change. Using a large, high-risk sample and multi-wave data of a common risk assessment tool, the Level of Service Inventory–Ontario Revised (LSI-OR), the current study investigated the relationship among criminogenic risk factors and their role in influencing the overall risk score. Results indicated a diverse pattern of effects on the eight subscale scores, specifically suggesting that changes on Procriminal Attitude/Orientation, Criminal History, and Leisure/Recreation subscales resulted in a quicker rate of change to the overall risk score over time. These results suggest that some factors may be driving the change in overall risk and could potentially effect the most change if prioritized for intervention. Practical implications and implications for further research are discussed.

scholarly journals Dynamic Risk Factors and their Utilisation in Case Formulation: A New Conceptual Framework

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lauren Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Case Formulation ◽  
Dynamic Risk Factors ◽  
Dynamic Risk ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Forensic Case ◽  
Reducing Recidivism ◽  
Offending Behaviour ◽  
The Individual

<p>The social pressure on policy makers and clinicians working with sexual offenders to reduce recidivism is extreme. A result of this pressure is the amount of research investigating risk-related features that has surged over the last few decades. Risk assessment has progressed from unstructured clinical judgement to development of risk factors that correlate with recidivism to predict levels of risk, and more recently, to forensic case formulation. This thesis concentrates on two key issues with forensic case formulation that has been largely neglected thus far. First, forensic case formulations rely heavily on the use of dynamic risk factors as causes of offending. The concern is that dynamic risk factors are composite constructs not causal mechanisms. Second, forensic case formulation models do not explain how to use an offender’s information and their risk factors to hypothesise about the cause of their offending leading to issues of reliability. To address these issues, the RECFM consists of five phases that guides clinicians on how to appropriately use forensic case formulation. The Risk Etiology Case Formulation Model (RECFM) aims to incorporate a reconceptualised version of dynamic risk factors using an Agency Model to identify the interaction of agent and context that causes offending behaviour. By using the RECFM, treatment can be targeted to the individual and their specific causes of offending, which will lead to better results in reducing recidivism. The aim of this thesis is to provide a forensic case formulation model is comprehensible for clinicians and that targets the causes of offending.</p>

scholarly journals Dynamic Risk Factors and their Utilisation in Case Formulation: A New Conceptual Framework

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lauren Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Case Formulation ◽  
Dynamic Risk Factors ◽  
Dynamic Risk ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Forensic Case ◽  
Reducing Recidivism ◽  
Offending Behaviour ◽  
The Individual

<p>The social pressure on policy makers and clinicians working with sexual offenders to reduce recidivism is extreme. A result of this pressure is the amount of research investigating risk-related features that has surged over the last few decades. Risk assessment has progressed from unstructured clinical judgement to development of risk factors that correlate with recidivism to predict levels of risk, and more recently, to forensic case formulation. This thesis concentrates on two key issues with forensic case formulation that has been largely neglected thus far. First, forensic case formulations rely heavily on the use of dynamic risk factors as causes of offending. The concern is that dynamic risk factors are composite constructs not causal mechanisms. Second, forensic case formulation models do not explain how to use an offender’s information and their risk factors to hypothesise about the cause of their offending leading to issues of reliability. To address these issues, the RECFM consists of five phases that guides clinicians on how to appropriately use forensic case formulation. The Risk Etiology Case Formulation Model (RECFM) aims to incorporate a reconceptualised version of dynamic risk factors using an Agency Model to identify the interaction of agent and context that causes offending behaviour. By using the RECFM, treatment can be targeted to the individual and their specific causes of offending, which will lead to better results in reducing recidivism. The aim of this thesis is to provide a forensic case formulation model is comprehensible for clinicians and that targets the causes of offending.</p>

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