Using the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offense version in sexual violence risk assessments: Updated risk categories and recidivism estimates from a multisite sample of treated sexual offenders.

The present study examined the validity and reliability of a youth sexual offense risk assessment and treatment planning tool, the Violence Risk Scale–Youth Sexual Offense Version (VRS-YSO), on a sample of 102 court-adjudicated youth referred to assessment and/or treatment outpatient services followed up an average of 11.7 years in the community. VRS-YSO scores demonstrated “good” to “excellent” interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs] = .64-.83). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the static and dynamic items identified three latent dimensions consistent with the extant risk literature labeled Sexual Deviance, Antisocial Tendencies, and Family Concerns. VRS-YSO scores showed strong patterns of convergence with scores from the Estimate of Risk for Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism (ERASOR), Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol–II (J-SOAP-II), and the Juvenile Sexual Offense Recidivism Risk Assessment Tool–II (J-SORRAT-II). VRS-YSO scores, in turn, demonstrated moderate to high predictive accuracy for sexual, violent (sexual and nonsexual), and general recidivism (significant areas under curve [AUCs] = .67-.88). Examination of pre–posttreatment change data on the subset of youth who attended treatment services found VRS-YSO change scores to be significantly associated with reductions in general recidivism, but not other recidivism outcomes. Future research and clinical applications of the VRS-YSO in youth sexual offense assessment and treatment planning are discussed.

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Use of the Violence Risk Scale – Sexual Offense version (VRS-SO) within sexually violent persons evaluations

Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention ◽

10.5964/sotrap.6341 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

Author(s):

Sharon M. Kelley

Keyword(s):

The United States ◽

Treatment Center ◽

Sexual Offense ◽

Violence Risk ◽

Sexual Recidivism ◽

Treatment Change ◽

Sexually Violent ◽

History Of ◽

Sexually Violent Persons ◽

Risk Scale

In many parts of the United States, individuals can be civilly committed as Sexually Violent Persons (SVP) to a secure treatment center based on their history of sexual offenses, current mental disorder, and current risk for sexual recidivism. While the specific criteria vary between jurisdictions, SVP civil commitment is indefinite, and periodic examinations occur to determine if ongoing commitment is necessary. Release recommendations may be made in part based on patients’ treatment progress. Therefore, incorporating treatment change into periodic risk assessments is an important role of the SVP evaluator. The current paper sought to explore the benefits of using an actuarial tool within SVP populations to measure decreased sexual recidivism risk as a result of treatment change. Specific discussion of the use of the Violence Risk Scale – Sexual Offense version (Olver et al., 2007, https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.19.3.318) is provided.

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Incorporating Change Information Into Sexual Offender Risk Assessments Using the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offender Version

Sexual Abuse ◽

10.1177/1079063213502679 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 472-499 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Mark E. Olver ◽

Sarah M. Beggs Christofferson ◽

Randolph C. Grace ◽

Stephen C. P. Wong

Keyword(s):

Sexual Offender ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

Violence Risk ◽

Risk Scale

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Forensic application of static and dynamic risk factors: Is it the right time?

Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention ◽

10.5964/sotrap.4561 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

Author(s):

Brian Abbott

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Sexual Offender ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

Future Research ◽

Offender Treatment ◽

Violence Risk ◽

Dynamic Risk Factors ◽

Dynamic Risk ◽

Forensic Practice

It is common, accepted clinical practice to conduct risk assessments of individuals who commit sexual offenses using the combination of sexual violence risk actuarial measures and dynamic risk factors. This assessment approach has utility when identifying treatment targets, assessing progress in sexual offender treatment, and forming risk management plans. Little research has examined this method in forensic contexts such as deciding whether individuals who suffer from mental disorders are likely to engage in sexually dangerous behavior as defined by sexually violent predator or persons (“SVP”) involuntary civil confinement laws in the USA. In particular, it is uncertain whether the combination of sexual violence risk actuarial measures and dynamic risk factors (DRF) produces sufficiently reliable, relevant, and probative evidence for the trier of fact to properly evaluate the SVP legally defined likelihood of sexual dangerousness. This article explores the efficacy of combining actuarial measures of sexual violence risk and dynamic risk factors as applied in SVP risk assessments based on some commonly observed forensic practices among evaluators. Based on the analysis, recommendations for forensic practice and future research are offered.

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Predictive Accuracy of Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offender Version Risk and Change Scores in Treated Canadian Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Sexual Offenders

Sexual Abuse ◽

10.1177/1079063216649594 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 254-275 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Mark E. Olver ◽

Justina N. Sowden ◽

Drew A. Kingston ◽

Terry P. Nicholaichuk ◽

Audrey Gordon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

First Nations ◽

Sexual Offenders ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Sexual Offender ◽

Baseline Risk ◽

Offender Treatment ◽

Violence Risk ◽

Change Scores ◽

Violent Recidivism ◽

Risk Scale

The present study examined the predictive properties of Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offender version (VRS-SO) risk and change scores among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal sexual offenders in a combined sample of 1,063 Canadian federally incarcerated men. All men participated in sexual offender treatment programming through the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) at sites across its five regions. The Static-99R was also examined for comparison purposes. In total, 393 of the men were identified as Aboriginal (i.e., First Nations, Métis, Circumpolar) while 670 were non-Aboriginal and primarily White. Aboriginal men scored significantly higher on the Static-99R and VRS-SO and had higher rates of sexual and violent recidivism; however, there were no significant differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups on treatment change with both groups demonstrating close to a half-standard deviation of change pre and post treatment. VRS-SO risk and change scores significantly predicted sexual and violent recidivism over fixed 5- and 10-year follow-ups for both racial/ancestral groups. Cox regression survival analyses also demonstrated positive treatment changes to be significantly associated with reductions in sexual and violent recidivism among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men after controlling baseline risk. A series of follow-up Cox regression analyses demonstrated that risk and change score information accounted for much of the observed differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men in rates of sexual recidivism; however, marked group differences persisted in rates of general violent recidivism even after controlling for these covariates. The results support the predictive properties of VRS-SO risk and change scores with treated Canadian Aboriginal sexual offenders.

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Predictive Properties of the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offense Version as a Function of Age

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191120914405 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 107319112091440

Author(s):

Mark E. Olver ◽

Sarah M. Beggs Christofferson ◽

Terry P. Nicholaichuk ◽

Stephen C. P. Wong

Keyword(s):

Fixed Effects ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Sexual Offense ◽

Violence Risk ◽

Sexual Recidivism ◽

Change Scores ◽

Age Cohorts ◽

Age Related ◽

Risk Scale

The present study examined the discrimination and calibration properties of Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offense version (VRS-SO) risk and change scores for sexual and violent recidivism as a function of age at release, on a combined sample of 1,287 men who had attended sexual offense-specific treatment services. The key aim was to examine to what extent VRS-SO scores can accurately discriminate recidivists from nonrecidivists among older cohorts, and if the existing age-related adjustments in the instrument adequately correct for increasing age. VRS-SO risk and change scores showed consistent properties of discrimination for sexual recidivism across the age cohorts, via area under the curve and Cox regression survival analysis, as demonstrated through fixed effects meta-analysis. Calibration analyses, employing logistic regression, demonstrated that age at release was consistently incrementally predictive of violent, but not sexual, recidivism after controlling for individual differences on static and dynamic risk factors. E/O index analyses demonstrated that predicted rates of sexual recidivism from VRS-SO scores, particularly when employed with Static-99R, were not significantly different from those observed among age cohorts; however, calibration was weaker for general violence. Implications for use of the VRS-SO in sexual recidivism risk assessment with older offenders are discussed.

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