Actuarial Criminology: Meeting Current Challenges in Southern Africa

An Evaluation of the Reliability and Validity of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) in South African Context

“…The reliability of the SAQ in other settings as indicated in Table 2 (see Prinsloo & Ladikos, 2006) is well established. However, Table 2 indicates score variation that may be attributed to regional and cultural effects.…”

“…The Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) is a contemporary scale for assessing violent and non-violent recidivism (Loza, 2005) that has been developed in response to the predominant factors found associated with recidivism. Some of these areas have been ignored or not adequately covered by other assessment scales (Prinsloo & Ladikos, 2006). One of the most important advantages of using the SAQ is its emphasis on dynamic content areas which overcomes one of the main criticisms levelled at other predominantly static actuarial measures.…”

“…These objectives are related to the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model that is contextualised within a general personality and cognitive social learning theory of criminal conduct, based upon the principles of risk, need and responsivity (Bonta & Andrews, 2007). Actuarial assessments are important to use with clinical approaches to enhance the prediction and control of correctional populations within an integrated approach to risk assessment (Prinsloo & Ladikos, 2006). The Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ) is a contemporary scale for assessing violent and non-violent recidivism (Loza, 2005) that has been developed in response to the predominant factors found associated with recidivism.…”