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Molnar T, Allard T, McKillop N, Rynne J. Reliability and Predictive Validity of the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II in an Australian Context. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2022; 66:1051-1070. [PMID: 31957511 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x19900978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the reliability and predictive validity of the Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II (J-SOAP-II), in an Australian context, and for Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth. Participants were 123 (n = 91 non-Indigenous; n = 32 Indigenous) youth assessed using the J-SOAP-II and followed up over an average period of 4 years. The reliability of the J-SOAP-II was assessed using measures of internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas and inter-item correlations). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were conducted to assess the J-SOAP-II's validity in predicting sexual and non-sexual (violent and non-violent) recidivism. Overall, the J-SOAP-II demonstrated moderate to high levels of reliability and weak to moderate levels of validity for predicting sexual and non-sexual (violent and non-violent) recidivism for the whole sample. While the J-SOAP-II total score was significantly associated with non-sexual (violent and non-violent) recidivism for non-Indigenous youth, it was not significantly associated with any of the outcome variables for Indigenous youth. Across all analyses, the dynamic scales of the J-SOAP-II predicted recidivism with greater accuracy than the static scales. However, the static scales had greater accuracy in predicting the risk of sexual recidivism for Indigenous youth. While a reliable measure, these preliminary findings raise questions about the validity of the J-SOAP-II for predicting sexual recidivism for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in an Australian context, and warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timea Molnar
- Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Troy Allard
- Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nadine McKillop
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - John Rynne
- Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Allan A, Parry CL, Tubex H, Spiranovic C, Morgan F. Forensic Experts' Perspectives on Australian Indigenous Sexual Offenders and Factors Important in Evaluating the Risk of Recidivism. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2021; 65:1653-1675. [PMID: 33131356 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x20967941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Law and ethics require that risk assessment should be cross-culturally valid and fair, but Australian research in this regard is underdeveloped. A logical first step in progressing the work required to build a strong evidence base on culturally sensitive risk assessment in Australia is to determine the expert views of those in the field. We interviewed 13 Australian evaluators who assess Indigenous sexual offenders' recidivism risk to determine their perceptions of the risk assessment instruments they use and the attributes they believe evaluators doing cross-cultural assessments should have. Our central findings are that evaluators use the available instruments because they believe that the same factors predict sexual recidivism for Indigenous and non-Indigenous offenders, but that they do so cautiously knowing the limitations of the instruments. Evaluators nevertheless want more research data to guide them when they use the available instruments to assess people from cultures that differ from those of people in the normative sample. Participants acknowledge that the unique challenges of assessing Indigenous sexual offenders require non-Indigenous evaluators to be culturally competent and confident. These findings should be valuable to evaluators and those who train or supervise evaluators and/or intend to establish or improve the validity of risk instruments in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Allan
- Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - Cate L Parry
- Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - Hilde Tubex
- University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Caroline Spiranovic
- University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Frank Morgan
- University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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Olver ME, Stockdale KC. Sexual Violence Risk Assessment With Indigenous Men: Context, Controversies, and Current Findings. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2021; 23:48. [PMID: 34196806 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-021-01261-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We review the issues, controversies, and main findings from the sexual violence risk assessment literature with Indigenous men. An argument is presented for the incorporation of structured and validated risk assessment measures as part of a comprehensive assessment to inform risk management and the prevention of sexual violence. RECENT FINDINGS Extant research demonstrates that Canadian Indigenous men convicted for sexual offenses tend to score higher on sexual violence risk measures and to have higher rates of sexual and violent recidivism. Established static and dynamic tools, however, have moderate predictive accuracy for sexual and violent recidivism and changes in risk from treatment or other change agents are associated with decreases in recidivism. Static-99R and the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offense version demonstrate acceptable properties of calibration for indigenous men with respect to sexual recidivism, although Indigenous men continue to show higher rates of violent recidivism associated with risk scores. The extant literature provides support for the discrimination and calibration properties of established static and dynamic sexual violence risk tools with Indigenous men; use of a dynamic tool is critical to inform risk management interventions and evaluate change. Risk measures are one component of a comprehensive and integrated assessment process that incorporates responsivity considerations, conducted in a culturally competent, ethical, and humane manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark E Olver
- University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
| | - Keira C Stockdale
- Saskatoon Police Service and University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Allan A, Parry CL, Ferrante A, Gillies C, Griffiths CS, Morgan F, Spiranovic C, Smallbone S, Tubex H, Wong SCP. Assessing the Risk of Australian Indigenous Sexual Offenders Reoffending: A Review of the Research Literature and Court Decisions. PSYCHIATRY, PSYCHOLOGY, AND LAW : AN INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHIATRY, PSYCHOLOGY AND LAW 2018; 26:274-294. [PMID: 31984077 PMCID: PMC6762098 DOI: 10.1080/13218719.2018.1504242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of offenders' risk of reoffending, particularly sexual reoffending, is a core activity of forensic mental health practitioners. The purpose of these assessments is to reduce the risk of harm to the public, but they are controversial and become more contentious when Australian practitioners who want to undertake such assessments in an ethically responsible way must use reliable validated instruments, disclose the limitations of their assessment methods, instruments and data to judicial decision-makers and understand how decision-makers might use their reports. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to explore the practices of Australian practitioners and courts in respect of the assessment of Australian Indigenous male sexual offenders' risk of reoffending. We could not identify an instrument that has been developed for the assessment of this population group. Australian courts differ in whether they admit and give weight to practitioners' evidence and opinions based on data obtained with non-validated instruments. We could only identify three possible predictor variables with enough quantitative support to justify including them in an instrument that could be used to assess Indigenous sexual offenders. There is a need for research regarding the validity of the instruments that practitioners use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Allan
- School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan
University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - Catherine L. Parry
- School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan
University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - Anna Ferrante
- PHRN Centre for Data Linkage, Faculty of
Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA,
Australia
| | | | - Catherine S. Griffiths
- School of Population and Global Health,
University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Francis Morgan
- School of Law, University of
Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- School of Population and Global Health,
University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Caroline Spiranovic
- School of Law, University of
Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Law School, University of Western
Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Stephen Smallbone
- Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith
University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Hilde Tubex
- Law School, University of Western
Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Stephen C. P. Wong
- Department of Psychology, University of
Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada and
Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of
Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
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