New research from the Australian Institute of Criminology's Indigenous Justice Research Program examined the validity of the Violence Risk Scale (VRS) to assess and predict risk of future offending among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous male prisoners. The research found:
- The VRS showed a moderate level of discriminatory accuracy for predicting future offending. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men scored higher on the VRS for static and dynamic factors and had a greater number of treatment needs.
- The VRS was more likely to classify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men who did not go on to reoffend as high risk compared with non-Indigenous men. This mis-assignment can result in detrimental correctional practices for affected men.
- Better risk assessment requires a different conceptual framework that recognises dynamic risk factors specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and training to build cultural competence and reduce bias in risk assessment.
Research Report: Validation of the Violence Risk Scale for Australian male prison populations
Trends & issues summary paper: Validity of the Violence Risk Scale for male prisoners in Australia
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