Abstract
Indeterminate detention (ID) is a high stakes sanction reserved for exceptionally high risk-high need (HRHN) persons who are deemed to pose an undue risk to public safety. It is one of the most extreme measures that is routinely taken by justice systems to manage sexual violence risk and prevent sexual and violent recidivism. Naturally, risk assessment is most frequently employed as a mechanism to keep dangerous people in custody; but seldom is risk assessment viewed as a possible ticket out for men with an ID designation who have made substantive risk changes and whose risk can be safely managed in the community. This article features applications of a dynamic sexual violence risk assessment and treatment planning tool, the Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offense version (VRS-SO), with ID individuals and other HRHN men, to assess risk in a dynamic manner to inform risk management efforts and release decisions. VRS-SO data on an ID sample are presented along with clinical illustrations of dynamic risk assessment. Several propositions are made with supporting data from VRS-SO normative research with treated sexual offending samples regarding the use of dynamic tools with ID men and the perils and pitfalls of relying solely on static measures. Ultimately, dynamic risk instruments can be used to track progress and monitor risk change over multiple assessments to inform release and reintegration decisions with ID persons. In this regard, dynamic assessment has the potential to help, rather than hinder, reintegration of ID sentenced persons and can inform safe, fair, and humane decisions.
Highlights
People in the criminal justice system who are viewed to pose an exceptional danger to society may be subjected to preventative measures, such as a period of incarceration or hospitalization with no foreseeable release date
Indeterminate detention (ID) is a high stakes sanction reserved for exceptionally high risk-high need (HRHN) persons who are deemed to pose an undue risk to public safety
Risk assessment is most frequently employed as a mechanism to keep dangerous people in custody; but seldom is risk assessment viewed as a possible ticket out for men with an ID designation who have made substantive risk changes and whose risk can be safely managed in the community
Summary
People in the criminal justice system who are viewed to pose an exceptional danger to society may be subjected to preventative measures, such as a period of incarceration or hospitalization with no foreseeable release date. These measures are referred to as indeter minate detention (ID). This article argues that having an evidence-based system in place to evaluate risk on changeable dimensions for ID persons who participate in treatment and learn to manage their risk, is feasible and desirable to promote safe re-entry and public safety. Supporting data are presented to model hypothetical reoffense rates of ID persons when they are released after participating in treatment and present some cautious optimism that: a) treatment can help lower risk for ID persons, and b) that instrumentation is in place to inform safe release decisions with this population
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
