Given that sexual offenders are more likely to reoffend with a nonsexual offence than a sexual
offence, it is useful to have risk scales that predict general recidivism among sexual offenders.
In
the current study, we examined the extent to which two commonly used risk scales for sexual
offenders (Static-99R and Static-2002R) predict violent and general recidivism, and whether it
would be possible to improve predictive accuracy for these outcomes by revising their items.
Based on an aggregated sample of 3,536 adult male sex offenders from Canada, US, and Europe
(average age of 39 years), we found that a scale created from age at release and the general
criminality subscale of Static-2002R predicted nonsexual violent, any violent, and general
recidivism significantly better than Static-99R or Static-2002R total scores.
The convergent
validity of this new scale (Brief Assessment of Recidivism Risk – 2002R; BARR-2002R) was
examined in a new, independent dataset of Canadian high risk adult male sex offenders (N =
360) where it was found to be highly correlated with other risk assessment tools for general
recidivism and the PCL-R, and demonstrated similar discrimination and calibration as in the
development sample. Instead of using total scores from the Static-99R or Static-2002R, we
recommend that evaluators use the BARR-2002R for predicting violent and general recidivism
among sex offenders, and for screening for the psychological dimension of antisocial orientation.
Via (PDF): http://goo.gl/mRyVl7
By: Kelly M. Babchishin
University of Ottawa Institute of
Mental Health Research, Royal Ottawa Hospital
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