Use and perceived utility of structured violence risk assessments in English medium secure forensic units

Khiroya, Reena, Weaver, Tim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3437-3556 and Maden, Anthony (2009) Use and perceived utility of structured violence risk assessments in English medium secure forensic units. Psychiatric Bulletin, 33 (4) . pp. 129-132. ISSN 0955-6036 [Article] (doi:10.1192/pb.bp.108.019810)

Abstract

Aims and Method
We surveyed the usage and perceived utility of standardised risk measures in 29 forensic medium secure units (a 62% response rate).

Results
The most common instruments were Historical Clinical Risk–20 (HCR–20) and Psychopathy Checklist – revised (PCL–R); both were rated highly for utility. the Risk Matrix 2000 (RM2000), Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide (SORAG) and Static-99 were the most common sex offender assessments, but the Sexual Violence Risks–20 (SVR–20) was rated more positively for its use of dynamic factors and relevance to treatment.

Clinical Implications
Most medium secure units use structured risk assessments and staff view them positively. As HCR–20 and PCL–R/PCL–SV (Psychopathy Checklist – Screening Version) are so widely used they should be the first choices considered by other services.

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