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Abstract: 

In the current atmosphere of sex offender risk assessment, it would be almost unthinkable to assess a sex offender’s risk for reoffense without considering actuarial risk assessment methods. Even if the actuarial methodologies were not used, a person assessing risk for sexual recidivism would probably at least need to justify why these methods were not implemented. The use of actuarial risk assessment instruments, however, is still a hotly debated issue. A number of critics have pointed out the potential problems with these methods as applied to individual cases. (See, e.g., T.W. Campbell, “Sexual Predator Evaluations and Phrenology: Considering Issues of Evidentiary Reliability,” 18 Behav. Sciences and the Law 111-130 (2000); T.R. Litwack, “Actuarial Versus Clinical Assessments of Dangerousness,” 7 Psychology, Pub. Policy, and Law 409-43 (2001).)

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Affiliations:  1: Forensic Services Team at the Special Commitment Center; 2: Forensic Services Team at the Special Commitment Center.