Gender-Sensitive Violence Risk Assessment

The criminogenic profile of violent female offenders incarcerated in Western Australian prisons as per the Level of Service/Risk, Need, Responsivity (LS/RNR) and Violence Risk Scale (VRS)

“…When compared to male offenders, research into the factors contributing to female offending is in its infancy, and there is an ongoing debate on whether the factors pertinent for male offending are valid for females (Andrews & Bonta, 2010;de Vogel & de Vries Robb e, 2012;Ostermann & Herrschaft, 2013;Rettinger & Andrews, 2010;Salisbury & van Voorhis, 2009;Smith et al, 2009;Stewart, 2011;Van der Knaap et al, 2012). The current research contributes to the emerging international evidence base by analysing whether gender differences exist on risk factors related to general offending and violent offending in a WA sample.…”

“…However, there are criminogenic factors specific for female offenders (Byrne & Howells, 2002;De Souza & Doyal, 1998), and certain factors linked to offending for both males and females have been found to have a stronger impact on female offending (Byrne & Howells, 2002;de Vogel & de Vries Robb e, 2012;Pollock, 1998). Gender-responsive research has identified central needs of female offenders including victimisation and trauma, mental illness (predominantly mood disorders and anxiety), substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships and parenting demands in the female offending population (Barlow & Weare, 2019;Brennan et al, 2010;Covington & Bloom, 2007;Daly, 1992;Derkzen et al, 2013;Green et al, 2016;Heilbrun et al, 2008;McKeown, 2010;Salisbury & van Voorhis, 2009;Simpson et al, 2008;Van Voorhis et al, 2008;Weizmann-Henelius et al, 2015), identifies whether these factors are predictive of recidivism, and determines whether inclusion of these factors improves on the validity of existing risk assessment tools.…”

“…Gender differences were not identified in the matched sample for education/employment, family/marital, companions or procriminal attitudes, indicating a greater level of homogeneity across the violent offender sample on the LS/RNR profile. Despite this, significant gender differences remained for criminal history, leisure/recreation, alcohol and drug problem, and antisocial pattern, with the latter including consideration of financial issues, which was identified in the research as contributing to female pathways to crime (Brennan et al, 2010;de Vogel & de Vries Robb e, 2012;Manchak et al, 2009;Weizmann-Henelius et al, 2015).…”