Forensic Assessment Instruments

Forensic psychology assessments are tests, known as instruments, that are administered and then used to attempt to determine the potential risk of an individual behaving in a violent manner. There are a number of different instruments that can be applied to test the threat of potential danger in different circumstances.

General Risk

• The General Risk instruments are designed to test the likelihood that a previous offender will be a repeat offender. Assessments are different for adults and children, with adults subject to either the Level of Service Inventory or the General Statistical Information on Recidivism, while children can be given the Youth Level of Service Inventory or the Early Assessment Risk, which is given in gender-specific variations.

Workplace Risk

• When assessing workplace risk psychologists can use two types of assessment instruments. The Workplace Risk Assessment instrument is more general, looking to cover a wide variety of fields and roles. In the Employee Risk Assessment the instrument is geared more closely to the individual being assessed.

Spousal Violence Risk

• The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA) is used to determine if an individual is likely to pose a threat to his significant other. The SARA consists of 20 different risk factors with which the individual is assessed.

Sexual Risk

• No area of potential violence features more available instruments for assessing potential risk in individuals than sexual violence. Children can be assessed with the Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism, while adults can be given an assessment such as the Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide or Rapid Risk Assessment for Sex Offense Recidivism.