Next generation assessment technology: the potential and pitfalls of integrating individual and community risk assessment
The recent inclusion of community-level risk variables in (some) fourth generation risk assessment instruments, ostensibly to make more accurate individual-level predictions of the likelihood of reoffending among the populations of probationers and parolees under community supervision, is examined i...
Authors: | ; |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2017
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In: |
Probation journal
Year: 2017, Volume: 64, Issue: 3, Pages: 242-255 |
Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Keywords: |
Summary: | The recent inclusion of community-level risk variables in (some) fourth generation risk assessment instruments, ostensibly to make more accurate individual-level predictions of the likelihood of reoffending among the populations of probationers and parolees under community supervision, is examined in the following review. This development raises a thorny issue: what if the price of improved predictive accuracy is increased gender, race, or class-based disparity? Our review underscores the problems (conceptualization and measurement related) inherent in combining individual risk variables with community-level risk variables in order to assess an offender’s risk for re-offending during a specified follow-up period. In recognition of the likely disparity that will result from the conflation of neighborhood risk into individual risk assessments, we suggest an alternative: conduct a separate neighborhood risk assessment that can be used to simultaneously develop (1) a community-based treatment plan for individual offenders and (2) a resource development plan identifying and addressing service shortfalls and other risk factors in the neighborhoods where offenders reside. |
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ISSN: | 1741-3079 |
DOI: | 10.1177/0264550517720851 |