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Communicating Violence Risk Information to Forensic Decision Makers

Grant T. Harris

Kelly Rawson

Craig A. Beach

Mental Health Centre, Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada

Although actuarial risk assessments have the potential to improve forensic decision making, clinicians neither prefer nor use them. Effective communication is an important next step for study. The decisions of 60 forensic clinicians (from a range of disciplines) were examined for possible effects related to case information, a likelihood of violent recidivism statement, and actuarial risk level. When no likelihood statement was provided, participants reported using case information containing risk factors to appraise risk. A summary likelihood statement, however, improved communicationof risk. Participants were more likely to defer a security decision when there was no likelihood statement. Participants made little distinction between likelihood of violence and comparative risk. These findings suggests trategies for improving violence risk communication.

Key Words: risk communication • risk assessment • violence • decision making

Criminal Justice and Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 1, 97-116 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0093854804270630


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