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A procedure is presented for calculating the costs of failure of a dam and for incorporating these risk costs into the evaluation process. Basically, it involves a calculation of expected value. One critical issue is what the probability of failure should be; given that research will not provide accurate values for some time, a default value (of 10−4 per dam year) is proposed to be used until better information becomes available. Another critical question is whether the refinement of incorporating risk costs is worthwhile; here, the risk‐benefit factor α is introduced to be used as a screening tool to decide the question. The importance of implicit value ascribed to lives lost through failure is discussed.

Actuarial risk assessment instruments have become integral to the functioning of the correctional systems in North America, the United Kingdom, and many other parts of the world. While research on the classification of female offenders has been ongoing since the 1980s, there is still more work to be done. Adding to the growing body of literature, the present study analyses agency records from a Community Supervision Department located in a Southwestern state in the United States. Findings reveal the Wisconsin Risk/Needs Assessment instrument has predictive validity for both male and female probationers. Further, successful completion rates for males and females are found to be similar.

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