Risk Assessment-Forensic Behavior Analysis
Risk assessment can be determined by forensic psychologists within the prison system to justify whether or not a prisoner is at risk for committing more crime when they are released from prison. A risk assessor is there to prevent criminals from getting out of prison if they still have a key factor in their mind that would make them want to commit crime. There are many different kinds of risk assessment, one of them that stands out is “threat assessment”. When looking at how individuals came about committing crime and becoming criminals, there are different social and environmental factors which can take place to cause these outbursts as criminals. There is also the term “dangerousness”. Dangerousness is the thought of how dangerous an offender might be when they are re-integrated to the community (Bartol & Bartol, 2020). Risk assessment also includes the understanding of family life, peer interactions, household environment, and individual mental health states. By examining all of these environmental factors as well as different risks that correspond to the environmental factors, researchers will be able to come up with conclusions about how individuals develop criminal tendencies and how they might develop mental health, whether it be genetic or learned from family or peers. “Risk assessment suggests that clinicians and researchers are more proficient at assessing the probability that a given individual—or group of individuals—will engage in harmful behavior than they are at out rightly predicting that someone is dangerous or will be violent” (Bartol & Bartol, 2020).
According to Dr. Rousseau, “Outcomes of forensic assessments can be used to determine criminal responsibility, culpability, capacity to stand trial, and risk of re-offense. Forensic assessment can inform not only court procedures and outcomes, but also placement and treatment planning” (Rousseau, 2023). “In addition to general psychological-testing tools, there are tools that are designed specifically for forensic assessment and the assessment of risk of criminal behavior. Forensic risk-assessment strategies are commonly integrated into a psychological-testing protocol when one is dealing with a client involved in the criminal justice system” (Rousseau, 2023). There is a benefit to having risk assessment within the prison system to make sure that the prisoners who need treatment the most get it. As mentioned above, the program helps place individuals in treatment programs and place them in certain prisons that would benefit them in the long run.
According to the American Psychological Association, “They can give an informed opinion of whether a suspect knew right from wrong at the time of a crime and even whether a minor is being truthful in recounting an unlawful act. Some forensic psychologists work in the area of threat assessment, an emerging science predicting who may be at risk for committing a violent act” (APA, 2014). Understanding the roles of forensic psychologists within the criminal justice system is important because it will help individuals like researchers who are outside of the criminal justice system understand what their mission is and how it is beneficial for everyone that criminals are diagnosed and get the help they need if they are living under a mentally unstable life. Threat assessment is another program which pinpoints the problem and makes sure that it is resolved before the reintegration process is started. After they do their time whether it be at a prison or in a mental institution getting the treatment they need, then the forensic psychologist makes sure that the offender is able to get back into society or if he or she will be a risk to society when they are released. This kind of goes hand in hand with veterans, after coming back from overseas and fighting wars, the forensic psychologists can determine whether or not they need treatment to get them used to the way society is run and make sure they are ready to return to society at the best they can be without having a relapse of fear or anger from their overseas battle (APA, 2014).
The question of owing morale to different branches has come about when talking about forensic psychologists. After they do their time whether it be at a prison or in a mental institution getting the treatment they need, then the forensic psychologist makes sure that the offender is able to get back into society or if he or she will be a risk to society when they are released. This kind of goes hand in hand with veterans, after coming back from overseas and fighting wars, the forensic psychologists can determine whether or not they need treatment to get them used to the way society is run and make sure they are ready to return to society at the best they can be without having a relapse of fear or anger from their overseas battle (APA, 2014).
Overall, by having a specialized unit in the prison system for forensic psychologists to work is a good idea when thinking about the risk assessment and threat assessment models. By having these forensic psychologists work daily to improve this program and find treatment for the criminals incarcerated, this will benefit the overall threat to the community if the criminal gets out of prison. There are specialized units within Law Enforcement Agencies which work directly with the community for community engagement and to make sure that everything is ok in peoples minds and at their homes. For example: a Problem Oriented Policing Unit is formed to follow up with victims of domestic violence. They follow up with them to make sure that everything is ok within the household and their life overall. If there is the slightest of problems, then the officers will find different treatment or counseling programs they could attend to put them back on their feet and get them motivated to move past the incident that occurred in the past.
References:
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Forensic and public service psychology. American Psychological Association.
Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2020). Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach (12th ed.). Pearson Education (US)
Rousseau, D. (n.d.). Assessment In Forensic Psychology. Onlinecampus.bu.edu.