Reliability of Risk Assessment Measures Used in Sexually Violent Predator Proceedings

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Reliability of Risk Assessment Measures Used in Sexually Violent Predator Proceedings
Language: English
Authors: Miller, Cailey S., Kimonis, Eva R., Otto, Randy K., Kline, Suzonne M., Wasserman, Adam L.
Source: Psychological Assessment. Dec 2012 24(4):944-953.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2012
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Evaluation Methods, Court Litigation, At Risk Persons, Violence, Crime, Criminals, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Interrater Reliability, Psychopathology, Recidivism, Correlation, Test Reliability, Victims of Crime
Geographic Terms: Florida
DOI: 10.1037/a0028411
ISSN: 1040-3590
Abstract: The field interrater reliability of three assessment tools frequently used by mental health professionals when evaluating sex offenders' risk for reoffending--the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), the Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool-Revised (MnSOST-R) and the Static-99--was examined within the context of sexually violent predator program proceedings. Rater agreement was highest for the Static-99 (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC[subscript 1] = 0.78) and lowest for the PCL-R (ICC[subscript 1] = 0.60; MnSOST-R ICC[subscript 1] = 0.74), although all instruments demonstrated lower field reliability than that reported in their test manuals. Findings raise concerns about the reliability of risk assessment tools that are used to inform judgments of risk in high-stake sexually violent predator proceedings. Implications for future research and suggestions for improving evaluator training to increase accuracy when informing legal decision making are discussed. (Contains 6 tables and 3 footnotes.)
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 46
Entry Date: 2013
Accession Number: EJ991998
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:The field interrater reliability of three assessment tools frequently used by mental health professionals when evaluating sex offenders' risk for reoffending--the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), the Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Tool-Revised (MnSOST-R) and the Static-99--was examined within the context of sexually violent predator program proceedings. Rater agreement was highest for the Static-99 (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC[subscript 1] = 0.78) and lowest for the PCL-R (ICC[subscript 1] = 0.60; MnSOST-R ICC[subscript 1] = 0.74), although all instruments demonstrated lower field reliability than that reported in their test manuals. Findings raise concerns about the reliability of risk assessment tools that are used to inform judgments of risk in high-stake sexually violent predator proceedings. Implications for future research and suggestions for improving evaluator training to increase accuracy when informing legal decision making are discussed. (Contains 6 tables and 3 footnotes.)
ISSN:1040-3590
DOI:10.1037/a0028411