ERIC Number: EJ833873
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Nov
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1355-2600
EISSN: N/A
Assessing Risk for Sexual Offenders in New Zealand: Development and Validation of a Computer-Scored Risk Measure
Skelton, Alexander; Riley, David; Wales, David; Vess, James
Journal of Sexual Aggression, v12 n3 p277-286 Nov 2006
A growing research base supports the predictive validity of actuarial methods of risk assessment with sexual offenders. These methods use clearly defined variables with demonstrated empirical association with re-offending. The advantages of actuarial measures for screening large numbers of offenders quickly and economically are further enhanced when the variables used can be extracted from existing electronic databases. This study reports the results of applying a computerized set of historical variables with a sample of 1,133 male sexual offenders released from prison by the New Zealand Department of Corrections. Area under the curve figures of 0.70-0.78 were obtained over periods of 5 to 15 years, reflecting a significant level of association with sexual recidivism. Detected rates of re-offending across risk levels were comparable to those previously reported for the Static-99. Rates of sexual re-offending by child molesters for all sexual offences and offences against child victims are reported separately. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Sexual Abuse, Correctional Institutions, Predictive Validity, Foreign Countries, At Risk Persons, Criminals, Institutionalized Persons, Recidivism, Screening Tests, Males, Correlation, Child Abuse
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Zealand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A