The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA)
Stephen D. HartStephen D. HartSimon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser University
Part 1
IntroductionIntroduction
Spousal Assault
Actual, attempted, or threatened harm Actual, attempted, or threatened harm perpetrated against a current or former perpetrated against a current or former intimate partnerintimate partner includes fear-inducing behavior(“stalking”)includes fear-inducing behavior(“stalking”) ignores gender of victim and perpetratorignores gender of victim and perpetrator ignores legal status of intimate relationshipignores legal status of intimate relationship
SA as a Choice
The proximal cause of spousal assault is a The proximal cause of spousal assault is a decision to act violentlydecision to act violently
The decision is influenced by a host of The decision is influenced by a host of biological, psychological, and social factorsbiological, psychological, and social factors Neurological insult, hormonal abnormalityNeurological insult, hormonal abnormality Psychosis, personality disorderPsychosis, personality disorder Exposure to violent models, attitudes that Exposure to violent models, attitudes that
condone violencecondone violence
Prevalence
Spousal assault (SA) is a major threat to the Spousal assault (SA) is a major threat to the well-being of womenwell-being of women lifetime risk of victimization is about 25%lifetime risk of victimization is about 25% one-year risk of victimization is about 12%one-year risk of victimization is about 12% accounts for about 50% of all violent crimes accounts for about 50% of all violent crimes
reported to policereported to police at least 25-35% of all adult male offenders are at least 25-35% of all adult male offenders are
known to have committed spousal assaultknown to have committed spousal assault recidivism rate of perpetrators is substantial recidivism rate of perpetrators is substantial
Issue
Domestic violence is a greater problem in the Domestic violence is a greater problem in the criminal justice system than any other form of criminal justice system than any other form of violence, including robbery, sexual violence, or violence, including robbery, sexual violence, or stalkingstalking
Risk assessment is a cornerstone of offender Risk assessment is a cornerstone of offender managementmanagement Sentencing and release decisionsSentencing and release decisions Treatment planningTreatment planning Safety planning for survivorsSafety planning for survivors
Role of SA Risk Assessment
Criminal justiceCriminal justice Charges, bail, sentencing, correctional Charges, bail, sentencing, correctional
programming, probation, parole, restraining programming, probation, parole, restraining orders, duty to warn/protectorders, duty to warn/protect
Civil justiceCivil justice Custody, visitation, culpability for harmCustody, visitation, culpability for harm
OtherOther Treatment, advocacy/support, educationTreatment, advocacy/support, education
Violence Risk Assessment
Evaluations of people to:Evaluations of people to: Characterize the risk they will commit violence in Characterize the risk they will commit violence in
the futurethe future Develop interventions to manage riskDevelop interventions to manage risk
The clinical task is to:The clinical task is to: Understand how and why people chose to act Understand how and why people chose to act
violently in the pastviolently in the past Determine whether these or other factors might lead Determine whether these or other factors might lead
the person to make similar choices in the future the person to make similar choices in the future
Goals of Risk Assessment
Prevent violencePrevent violence
More specifically...More specifically... Guide intervention Guide intervention Improve consistency of decisionsImprove consistency of decisions Improve transparency of decisionsImprove transparency of decisions
Protect clients’ rightsProtect clients’ rights Liability managementLiability management
Nature of Violence Risk
Violence risk is a multi-faceted constructViolence risk is a multi-faceted construct Nature: what kinds of violence might occur?Nature: what kinds of violence might occur? Severity: how serious might the violence be?Severity: how serious might the violence be? Frequency: how often might violence occur?Frequency: how often might violence occur? Imminence: how soon might violence occur?Imminence: how soon might violence occur? Likelihood: what is the probability that Likelihood: what is the probability that
violence might occur?violence might occur?
Why Professional Guidelines?
““Raw” clinical Raw” clinical prediction doesn’t prediction doesn’t work well:work well: unreliableunreliable low accuracy low accuracy
(validity)(validity) not accountablenot accountable
Actuarial prediction Actuarial prediction doesn’t work well:doesn’t work well: inflexibleinflexible poor content poor content
appropriatenessappropriateness optimized (specific to optimized (specific to
sample, outcome sample, outcome criterion, and time of criterion, and time of follow-up)follow-up)
Why Professional Guidelines? (cont.)
Incorporates literature/scienceIncorporates literature/science Incorporates clinical knowledgeIncorporates clinical knowledge
analogous to medical guidelinesanalogous to medical guidelines Structures and informs decisions that are Structures and informs decisions that are
already being madealready being made
Specific Guidelines Make Sense General violence measures are a good General violence measures are a good
place to start, but can be misusedplace to start, but can be misused Hare Psychopathy Checklist - Revised Hare Psychopathy Checklist - Revised Violence Risk Appraisal GuideViolence Risk Appraisal Guide
Informed assessment improves upon Informed assessment improves upon traditional assessmenttraditional assessment many risk factors mistaken for “sympathy” many risk factors mistaken for “sympathy”
factors (e.g., suicidality, childhood factors (e.g., suicidality, childhood victimization, employment problems) victimization, employment problems)
Part 2
Content of the SARAContent of the SARA
Development of the SARA
Review of clinical and empirical literatureReview of clinical and empirical literature Format decisionFormat decision
Guide/aide memoire versus psychological testGuide/aide memoire versus psychological test Selection of risk factorsSelection of risk factors
Few, supported in literature, not discriminatory, Few, supported in literature, not discriminatory, static and dynamic, easily codedstatic and dynamic, easily coded
Consultation with clinicians and academicsConsultation with clinicians and academics
SARA Items: Criminal History
Past assault of family membersPast assault of family members Past assault of strangers/acquaintancesPast assault of strangers/acquaintances Past violation of conditional release or Past violation of conditional release or
community supervisioncommunity supervision
SARA: Psychosocial Adjustment
Recent relationship problemsRecent relationship problems Recent employment problemsRecent employment problems Victim of and/or witness to family violenceVictim of and/or witness to family violence Recent substance abuse/dependenceRecent substance abuse/dependence Recent suicidal or homicidal ideation/intentRecent suicidal or homicidal ideation/intent Recent psychotic and/or manic symptomsRecent psychotic and/or manic symptoms Personality disorderPersonality disorder
Special Case: The Personality Disordered Offender
Borderline PersonalityBorderline Personality What is it?What is it? Why does it matter?Why does it matter?
Psychopathic PersonalityPsychopathic Personality What is it?What is it? Why does it matter?Why does it matter?
relationship to violence and recidivismrelationship to violence and recidivism relationship to treatmentrelationship to treatment
SARA: Spousal Assault History
Past physical assaultPast physical assault Past sexual assault/sexual jealousyPast sexual assault/sexual jealousy Past use of weapons and/or threats of deathPast use of weapons and/or threats of death Recent escalation in severity or frequencyRecent escalation in severity or frequency Past violation of no-contact ordersPast violation of no-contact orders Extreme minimization or denialExtreme minimization or denial Attitudes that support or condone assaultAttitudes that support or condone assault
SARA Items: Current Offense
Severe and/or sexual assaultSevere and/or sexual assault Use of weapons and/or threats of deathUse of weapons and/or threats of death Violation of no-contact ordersViolation of no-contact orders
» Note: Can substitute “Most recent” for “Current”Note: Can substitute “Most recent” for “Current”
Summary of Items
General ViolenceGeneral Violence risk factors risk factors Criminal history variablesCriminal history variables Psychosocial variablesPsychosocial variables ““Part 1” of SARA formPart 1” of SARA form
Spousal AssaultSpousal Assault risk factors risk factors Spousal assault variablesSpousal assault variables Current or most recent offenseCurrent or most recent offense ““Part 2” of SARA formPart 2” of SARA form
Contact Information: Stephen D. Hart, Ph.D.Stephen D. Hart, Ph.D.
Department of PsychologyDepartment of PsychologySimon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, British ColumbiaBurnaby, British ColumbiaCanada V5A 1S6Canada V5A 1S6Tel: 604.291.5485 / Fax: 604.291.3427Tel: 604.291.5485 / Fax: 604.291.3427E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]: www.sfu.ca/psychology/groups/faculty/hartURL: www.sfu.ca/psychology/groups/faculty/hart