Objective
• To understand the use of violence reduction scale for the assessment of recidivism.
• To understand the static and dynamic factors of VRS
When people come into contact with the criminal justice system, they pass through several stages of processing. At each stage, an individual's risk of re-offending is assessed by criminal justice workers. Risk assessments are performed by justice professionals on a daily basis: pre-trial, before sentencing, when determining security level in custody, prior to release, and after breaches or critical incidents occur (Hart, 1995). These assessments can be either formal or informal in nature.
Risk assessment is fundamental to the criminal justice process because it is a means for distinguishing between offenders who are likely to re-offend and those who are at a lower risk for recidivism.
a) Violence reduction scale
Risk assessment and prediction have become an important part of forensic practice for many psychologists and non-psychologist practitioners. The VRS (Wong & Gordon, 1999- 2003; Wong & Gordon, 2006) is designed to integrate the assessment of risk, need, responsivity and treatment change into a single tool. It assesses the client’s level of violence risk, identifies treatment targets linked to violence, and assesses the clients’ readiness for change and their post-treatment improvements on the treatment targets. Treatment improvement or is designed based on the risk, need and responsivity principles. It is intended for use by scientists/practitioners to assess and predict the risk of violence, to measure changes in risk after treatment, and to make treatment decisions.
b) VRS addresses two types of factors:
• Static Risk Factors
• Dynamic Risk Factors
Static factors refer towards the things that can not change like the child hood history of criminal. Dynamic factors refer towards the changeable factors like if a person is taking heroine as a drug, once he decided to quit and quitted the addiction so risk factor is eliminated.
PCL-V receives the criticism that it only gives the estimation of severity of the problem and does not address the treatment. VRS eliminate the criticism by emphasizing the dynamic factors. So, to work on changing aspects and if things got change, risk factor minimizes.
The VRS uses 6 Static and 20 Dynamic variables .The VRS Static and Dynamic variables are rated on a 4- point scale (0, 1, 2 or 3) based on a careful review of file information and a semi-structured interview. The
VRS static variables can predict general and violent recidivism, but remain unchanged with treatment. Higher ratings on the static variables indicate worse “track records” of dysfunctional and anti-social behavior.
The Dynamic variables,
such as interpersonal aggression and criminal attitudes, are changeable risk predictors; they can be used as treatment targets and can measure changes in risk. Higher ratings (2 or 3) of Dynamic variables indicate that the variables in question are closely linked to violence and, therefore, are appropriate targets for treatment.
The sum of the ratings of the Static and Dynamic variables reflects the client’s level of violence risk; the higher the score, the higher the risk. In selecting clients for treatment, those with higher VRS scores should be appropriate candidates for higher intensity intervention.
Now let’s begin with the description of static factors of VRS.
Static Factors
- Current Age
- Age at first violent conviction
- Number of young offender convictions
- Violence throughout lifespan
- Stability of Family upbringing
How these factors are scored while using VRS?
- Current Age
There are lesser chances that an old man would commit violence. So if the person is 45 years or above 45 score of 0 is given.
- Age at first violent conviction
First case in court that resulted din some kind of conviction also determine future violence risks. Researches have shown that if the first offence was committed at the young age there are more future risks of violence. So, high score is given to the age below 15. Number of young offender convictions In this category frequency of convictions at the young age are scored to determine future risks.
- Violence throughout lifespan
If a person is not habitual of violence and only committed a single crime there could be many reasons and motives for that particular offence, such individuals are at low risk for further violence. But if the violence is the
pattern of the some one’s life then there are more chances that he will commit violence after releasing from prison. So a score of 3 is awarded to such people.
- Stability of Family upbringing
If person is brought up with good parenting, 0 scores are given.
Dynamic Factors
Dynamic factors have been found to predict recidivism as well as, or better than, static factors and are found more helpful in treatment. These factors are also measured during process of therapy. It is knowledge of dynamic factors that is necessary in order to assess changes in an offender's risk level. Dynamic factors from VRS are listed below. These factors are also scored in the same manner as the static factors are scored.
- Violent Lifestyle ( like having frequent quarrels with other co prisoners can also determine future risks)
- Criminal Personality ( if test scores determine that person has any personality disorder they are more likely to re-offend)
- Criminal attitude
- Work Ethic ( this factor is very good predictor as the individual who has non serious attitude towards work is more risky then the person who is seriously and devotedly accomplishing the work)
- Criminal Peers ( if person keeps bad company there is more risk of future violence and if the person has company of good people then he is more likely to spend a non violent life afterwards)
- Interpersonal Aggression
- Emotional Control
- Violence during institutionalization
- Weapon use
- Insight into violence ( If one admits that one has committed some thing wrong and have insight of his crime then less chances of future violence)
- Mental Disorder (although mentally ill people do not commit crimes but some time their severity of mental disorder can also predict the future behaviour)
- Substance Abuse (substance abusers are at very high risk of future recidivism. Because one can commit several type of crimes either to get drugs or under influence of those drugs)
- Stability of relationship with significant other
- Community Support ( the degree of support from family, neighbors and relatives is also measured and can predict the risk of recidivism)
- Released to high risk situation
- Violence cycle
- Impulsivity
- Cognitive Distortion
- Compliance with community supervision
- Security Level of anticipated release institution
• To understand the static and dynamic factors of VRS
When people come into contact with the criminal justice system, they pass through several stages of processing. At each stage, an individual's risk of re-offending is assessed by criminal justice workers. Risk assessments are performed by justice professionals on a daily basis: pre-trial, before sentencing, when determining security level in custody, prior to release, and after breaches or critical incidents occur (Hart, 1995). These assessments can be either formal or informal in nature.
Risk assessment is fundamental to the criminal justice process because it is a means for distinguishing between offenders who are likely to re-offend and those who are at a lower risk for recidivism.
a) Violence reduction scale
Risk assessment and prediction have become an important part of forensic practice for many psychologists and non-psychologist practitioners. The VRS (Wong & Gordon, 1999- 2003; Wong & Gordon, 2006) is designed to integrate the assessment of risk, need, responsivity and treatment change into a single tool. It assesses the client’s level of violence risk, identifies treatment targets linked to violence, and assesses the clients’ readiness for change and their post-treatment improvements on the treatment targets. Treatment improvement or is designed based on the risk, need and responsivity principles. It is intended for use by scientists/practitioners to assess and predict the risk of violence, to measure changes in risk after treatment, and to make treatment decisions.
b) VRS addresses two types of factors:
• Static Risk Factors
• Dynamic Risk Factors
Static factors refer towards the things that can not change like the child hood history of criminal. Dynamic factors refer towards the changeable factors like if a person is taking heroine as a drug, once he decided to quit and quitted the addiction so risk factor is eliminated.
PCL-V receives the criticism that it only gives the estimation of severity of the problem and does not address the treatment. VRS eliminate the criticism by emphasizing the dynamic factors. So, to work on changing aspects and if things got change, risk factor minimizes.
The VRS uses 6 Static and 20 Dynamic variables .The VRS Static and Dynamic variables are rated on a 4- point scale (0, 1, 2 or 3) based on a careful review of file information and a semi-structured interview. The
VRS static variables can predict general and violent recidivism, but remain unchanged with treatment. Higher ratings on the static variables indicate worse “track records” of dysfunctional and anti-social behavior.
The Dynamic variables,
such as interpersonal aggression and criminal attitudes, are changeable risk predictors; they can be used as treatment targets and can measure changes in risk. Higher ratings (2 or 3) of Dynamic variables indicate that the variables in question are closely linked to violence and, therefore, are appropriate targets for treatment.
The sum of the ratings of the Static and Dynamic variables reflects the client’s level of violence risk; the higher the score, the higher the risk. In selecting clients for treatment, those with higher VRS scores should be appropriate candidates for higher intensity intervention.
Now let’s begin with the description of static factors of VRS.
Static Factors
- Current Age
- Age at first violent conviction
- Number of young offender convictions
- Violence throughout lifespan
- Stability of Family upbringing
How these factors are scored while using VRS?
- Current Age
There are lesser chances that an old man would commit violence. So if the person is 45 years or above 45 score of 0 is given.
- Age at first violent conviction
First case in court that resulted din some kind of conviction also determine future violence risks. Researches have shown that if the first offence was committed at the young age there are more future risks of violence. So, high score is given to the age below 15. Number of young offender convictions In this category frequency of convictions at the young age are scored to determine future risks.
- Violence throughout lifespan
If a person is not habitual of violence and only committed a single crime there could be many reasons and motives for that particular offence, such individuals are at low risk for further violence. But if the violence is the
pattern of the some one’s life then there are more chances that he will commit violence after releasing from prison. So a score of 3 is awarded to such people.
- Stability of Family upbringing
If person is brought up with good parenting, 0 scores are given.
Dynamic Factors
Dynamic factors have been found to predict recidivism as well as, or better than, static factors and are found more helpful in treatment. These factors are also measured during process of therapy. It is knowledge of dynamic factors that is necessary in order to assess changes in an offender's risk level. Dynamic factors from VRS are listed below. These factors are also scored in the same manner as the static factors are scored.
- Violent Lifestyle ( like having frequent quarrels with other co prisoners can also determine future risks)
- Criminal Personality ( if test scores determine that person has any personality disorder they are more likely to re-offend)
- Criminal attitude
- Work Ethic ( this factor is very good predictor as the individual who has non serious attitude towards work is more risky then the person who is seriously and devotedly accomplishing the work)
- Criminal Peers ( if person keeps bad company there is more risk of future violence and if the person has company of good people then he is more likely to spend a non violent life afterwards)
- Interpersonal Aggression
- Emotional Control
- Violence during institutionalization
- Weapon use
- Insight into violence ( If one admits that one has committed some thing wrong and have insight of his crime then less chances of future violence)
- Mental Disorder (although mentally ill people do not commit crimes but some time their severity of mental disorder can also predict the future behaviour)
- Substance Abuse (substance abusers are at very high risk of future recidivism. Because one can commit several type of crimes either to get drugs or under influence of those drugs)
- Stability of relationship with significant other
- Community Support ( the degree of support from family, neighbors and relatives is also measured and can predict the risk of recidivism)
- Released to high risk situation
- Violence cycle
- Impulsivity
- Cognitive Distortion
- Compliance with community supervision
- Security Level of anticipated release institution
