Methods of Actuarial Crime Risk Assessment

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Professor in Faculty of Law and Political Sciences , University of Tehran

2 Assistant Professor, University of Yazd

Abstract

Although the static method is the primary method of actuarial assessment,that only pays attention to static risk factors such as past conviction, it isn’t able to assess crime risk precisely, because it neglects dynamic risk factors such as present drug addiction. So other methods such as dynamic actuarial assessment and combined actuarial/clinical assessment have been gradually invented, that in order to increase the exactness, include factors such as "criminogenic need" and "responsivity".Criminogenic need is another word for dynamic risk factor, that affects present situation of criminal. Removing these needs by rehabilitation programs can bring about crime risk reduction. Studing the last versions of actuarial assessment shows that not only it hasn't any conflict with rehabilitation idea but also prepares good grounds for it, by focusing on three principles : risk , need and responsivity.

Keywords