ERIC Number: EJ1009436
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Apr
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1073-1911
EISSN: N/A
The Violence Risk Scale: Predictive Validity and Linking Changes in Risk with Violent Recidivism in a Sample of High-Risk Offenders with Psychopathic Traits
Lewis, Kathy; Olver, Mark E.; Wong, Stephen C. P.
Assessment, v20 n2 p150-164 Apr 2013
The Violence Risk Scale (VRS) uses ratings of static and dynamic risk predictors to assess violence risk, identify targets for treatment, and assess changes in risk following treatment. The VRS was rated pre- and posttreatment on a sample of 150 males, mostly high-risk violent offenders many with psychopathic personality traits. These individuals attended a high-intensity institution-based cognitive-behavioral-oriented violence reduction treatment program in Canada and were then followed up for approximately 5 years postrelease to determine court adjudicated community violent recidivism. VRS scores significantly predicted violent recidivism. Measurements of risk reduction using dynamic VRS predictors were significantly correlated with reduction of violent recidivism after controlling for various potential confounds. The results suggest that, in a high-risk group of offenders with significant psychopathic traits, the VRS demonstrated predictive validity and the dynamic predictors can be used to assess treatment progress, which is linked to a specific criterion variable, thus, fulfilling the criteria for causal dynamic predictors set forth by Kraemer et al. Appended are Violence Risk Scale Static and Dynamic Items and Brief Item Descriptions. (Contains 4 tables, 2 figures, and 4 notes.)
Descriptors: At Risk Persons, Violence, Predictive Validity, Predictor Variables, Males, Criminals, Institutionalized Persons, Correctional Institutions, Foreign Countries, Recidivism, Psychopathology, Mental Disorders, Outcomes of Treatment, Pretests Posttests, Cognitive Restructuring, Behavior Modification, Program Effectiveness, Racial Differences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A