Nonsexual Violence Research Articles

Revival of the bhadra man in Rituparno Ghosh’s Unishe April and Dahan

Rituparno Ghosh’s cinematization of Unishe April (1994) and Dahan (1997) is a systemic triad interrogative feminist narrative of a case of sexual and non-sexual violence, the gendered spatial politics of Calcutta and the performativity of Bengali masculinity. The present study delves into the nuanced portrayal of the bhadralok masculinities in the cinematic texts of Rituparno Ghosh’s Unishe April (1994) and Dahan (1997). This research paper aims to articulate the relationship of Bengali bhadralok masculinity and the scattered hegemonies of socio-cultural structures of domination and patriarchal systems operating on multiple levels in the Bengali context. The bhadralok politics of the yesteryears was built on a collusion with the colonial system and espoused a broad spectrum of ideologies, including nationalism, liberalism, and humanism. Scholarly writings on Rituparno Ghosh have documented gender politics with an implicit focus on the feminine and queer subjectivity. The arguments of the present paper depart from the idea that masculinity is a genderless and a reified construct. Through a specific focus on masculinity and the masculine ideology’s nexus with gender social structuring, the present paper questions the invisibilization of masculine power, privilege, and performance. The bhadralok masculinity, though seemingly progressive and egalitarian, the embodiment preserves the patriarchal status quo of unequal gender relationships. Through an interrogation of the intersections of the changing bhadralok masculinities and its complex nexus with the changing social and cultural institutions across time and space, the study asserts that the cultured and sophisticated bhadralok gendered order is a failed political reconfiguration of masculinity.

The landscape of physical sexual violence in Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria: A systematic review

The present study aimed to determine the trending country-specific common forms and patterns of sexual violence in Sub-Saharan African countries considering the multi-component nature of the menace. We systematically reviewed the population-based studies, obtained from PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar, that dealt with all-encompassing physical sexual violence in Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria. The quality and significance of the data obtained were assessed, and similar events were grouped and reported found to have inspired policy recommendations for non-sexual violence initiatives and respect for sexual and reproductive health rights in Sub-Saharan Africa. This systematic review revealed that sexual violence is captured as sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse, rape, coercive sex, incest, child sexual abuse, and intimate partner sexual violence. Botswana ranked first in worldwide rape statistics, while Nigeria and Kenya ranked 135th and 103rd, respectively. Ethiopia’s global rape ranking was not available at the completion of writing this paper, and further statistical proof(s) on these ranks were also not established in this review. The historic record for Botswana on forced sex reads 10.3% while forced marriage for Ethiopia shows 58%. Across the four countries selected, intimate partner violence ranges between 9.0% and 58.6%. While completed rapes, attempted rapes, and forced sexual initiation were mentioned in a few studies, the lifetime sexual violence ranges between 45.4% and 56%. In addition, the generic sexual violence was between 9.6% and 61.2%. In summation, sexual violence is prevailing at the locations of study, regardless of age, gender, or community. However, since the actual or suspected dominant perpetrators of sexual violence are overrepresented in the male populations, enlightenment campaigns should be implemented for boys and men so that they grow more conscious of other gender’s sexual rights in the conduct or pursuit of their sexual satisfaction and behavior. Effective community engagement (with parents, workers, academics, and students) should be prioritized by various governments and other stakeholders toward the achievement of improved sexual health, and well-being among the populace.

Can reproductive health services be used to screen for sexual and gender-based violence in post-conflict Northern Uganda? - a pilot study.

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including rape and child sexual abuse, remains a significant challenge in post-conflict northern Uganda. Many victims have never sought help. Consequently, the scale of the problem is not known, and SGBV victims' injuries, both psychological and physical, remain hidden and unresolved. We aimed to explore whether health workers in rural Reproductive Health Services (RHS), following specific training, could provide a valuable resource for SGBV screening and subsequent referral to targeted services. Our project had three elements. First, RHS workers were trained to use a questionnaire to screen subjects for past SGBV Second, the screening questionnaire was used by RHS workers over a 3-month period, and the data collected were analysed to explore whether the screening approach was an effective one in this setting, and to record the scale and nature of the problem. Third, victims detected were offered referral as appropriate to hospital services or to a dedicated SGBV ActionAid shelter. Of 1656 women screened, 778 (47%) had suffered SGBV: 123 rape, and 505 non-sexual violence. 1,254 (76%) had been directly or indirectly affected by conflict experiences; 1066 had lived in internally displaced persons camps. 145 (9%) requested referral to Gulu SGBV Shelter; 25 attended the shelter and received assistance, and 20 others received telephone counselling. Undetected SGBV remains a significant problem in post-conflict northern Uganda. RHS workers, following specific training, can effectively screen for and identify otherwise unrecognised survivors of SGBV. This matters because without ongoing detection, survivors have no opportunity for resolution, healing or help.

The propensity to control: Non-sexual violence as probative of sexual offending in the intimate partner context

This article explores, with reference to four recent New Zealand appellate court decisions, the use of evidence of prior non-sexual offending by a defendant against the same complainant offered to prove sexual offence charges. Such ‘relationship propensity evidence’ can be particularly crucial for explaining the defendant–complainant dynamic in cases involving intimate partner violence. However, in some cases, courts have applied traditional common law ‘similar fact’ notions of linkage and coincidence to exclude evidence of non-sexual offending in relation to sexual charges. We argue that this is an unsatisfactory outcome that is largely resultant from the governing provision being designed to assess similar fact reasoning. Rather, we submit that in the context of intimate partner violence, seemingly discrete and unrelated forms of violence should be understood as potentially linked by the underpinning dynamic of coercive control. This shift in characterisation of varying forms of violence—from discrete and dissimilar to connected by a dynamic of coercive control—will result in a more flexible approach to the cross-admissibility of relationship propensity evidence in appropriate cases, including when it comes to offering evidence of physical violence as probative of sexual offending.

Exploratory rasch analysis of a static-99R clinical cohort assessment.

Modern test theory supplements the more prevalent classic methods for assessing test properties. However, such an assessment of the commonly used sexual recidivism risk assessment instrument, Static-99R, has yet to be attempted. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of said instrument using Rasch analysis. The clinical cohort assessed consisted of individuals with mental disorders convicted of a sexual offense (N = 146). Results showed that the original ten-item Static‑99R did not meet the Rasch model requirements, and revisions of the instrument with seven and nine items each only marginally improved performance. More reliable results could likely have been obtained with a larger, non-clinical sample and a more randomized distribution of missing data. Despite the consistently poor performance of item 3 ("Index non-sexual violence") in all three analyses, reliability was slightly improved by dichotomizing the only two polytomous items in the Static-99R; items 1 ("Age at release from index offense") and 5 ("Prior sexual offenses"). These results may be of interest considering the significant change of splitting the formerly dichotomous item 1 into four different response categories in the revision of Static-99 to Static-99R.

Sexual and nonsexual violence and mental health among male refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo residing in Kampala, Uganda: a population-based survey

ABSTRACTWe conducted a population-based survey in 2013 in Kampala, Uganda, to examine violence and mental health outcomes among self-settled male refugees from the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Male DRC refugees aged 18+ years were sampled through respondent-driven sampling. Key interview domains included demographics, experiences of sexual and nonsexual violence, social support, PTSD, depression and suicide ideation. Data analysis was weighted to generate population-level estimates. We sampled 718 men (mean age: 33 years), most of whom had lived in North or South Kivu. Nonsexual violence, such as beatings (79.4%) and torture (63.8%), was frequent. A quarter (26.2%) had been raped; 49.9% of rape victims had been raped on multiple occasions, and 75.7% of rape victims had been gang raped. We estimated 52.8% had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); 44.4% reported suicidal ideation. Numerous traumas were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with PTSD such as rape (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.82), war-related injuries (aOR = 2.90) or having been exposed to >15 traumas (compared to ≤10; aOR = 6.89). Traumata are frequent experiences in this self-settled male refugee population and are often accompanied by adverse mental health outcomes. Screening for trauma and adverse mental health outcomes and providing targeted services are paramount to improve these refugees’ lives.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Treatability in Dutch Patients with Cluster B Personality Disorders Mandated to Forensic Clinical Care: A Comparison of Men Convicted for Sexual and Violent Offenses

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been consistently linked to interpersonal violence and are highly prevalent in correctional populations, particularly in men who perpetrate (sexual) violent behavior. Although exposure to ACEs is common in men who perpetrate interpersonal violence, less is known about the differences between men who commit sexual versus non-sexual violence. This cross-sectional study reports on the differences in prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in Dutch men who committed sexual offenses (N = 29) versus those who committed (non-sexual) violent offenses (N = 29), all who have been mandated to forensic clinical care. Drawing on data from a RCT-study among male forensic psychiatric inpatients with cluster B personality disorders from seven forensic hospitals in the Netherlands, the study explored potential differences in ACEs, and its relationship to treatability in the first year of forensic treatment. No significant differences were found in prevalence of childhood abuse and neglect among men convicted for sexual offenses versus those convicted for violent offenses. In our study, ACEs were not predictive of risk relating to treatability at the start of forensic treatment. Our findings suggest that taking into account trauma histories is of equal importance for both offending groups. Implications regarding trauma-informed forensic care are discussed.

Using Reproductive Health Services to Address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda.

Introduction Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including rape and child sexual abuse, remains a significant challenge in post-conflict northern Uganda, including within refugee settlements. Many victims have never sought help from health-related services. Consequently, the scale of the problem is unknown, and SGBV victims’ injuries, both psychological and physical, remain undetected and unaddressed. We hypothesized that health workers in rural Reproductive Health Services could provide a valuable resource for SGBV screening and subsequent referral for support. Methods Our project had three elements. First, Reproductive Health Service workers were trained in the knowledge and skills needed to screen for and identify women who had experienced SGBV, using a questionnaire-based approach. Second, the screening questionnaire was used by reproductive health workers over a 3-month period, and the data analysed to explore the scale and nature of the problem. Third, victims detected were offered referral as appropriate to hospital services and/or the ActionAid SURGE (Strengthening Uganda’s Response to Gender Equality) shelter in Gulu. Results 1656 women were screened. 778 (47%) had a history of SGBV, including 123 victims of rape and 505 victims of non-sexual violence. 1,254 (76%) had been directly or indirectly affected by conflict experiences; 1066 had lived in IDP camps. 145 (9%) were referred at their request to Gulu SGBV Shelter under SURGE. Of these, 25 attended the shelter and received assistance, and a further 20 received telephone counselling. Conclusion Undetected SGBV remains a problem in post-conflict northern Uganda. Reproductive Health Service workers, following specific training, can effectively screen for and identify otherwise unreported and unassisted cases of SGBV. Future work will explore scaling up to include screening in hospital A&amp;E departments, incorporate approaches to screening for male victims, and the impact of taking both screening and support services to rural communities through local clinics with mobile teams.

Non-Sexual Violence Values in Academic Culture of Universities in Indonesia

Sexual violence that happens in Indonesian universities is often considered trivial and receive little attention. Universities that are healthy, comfortable, safe, and free from sexual violence will ensure the continuity of educational activities. Colleges or universities should be a place for students to gain knowledge and improve morale. This article focuses on describing the non-sexual violence values developed by universities in their academic culture. This qualitative research was conducted at Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) and Universitas Palangkaraya (UPR). Data was collected through surveys, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), secondary data review, and observation. The results of the study showed that universities have developed non-sexual values ​​by strengthening the governance of higher education institutions and the culture of the community of students, educators, and educational staff.

Men’s Self-Reported and Psychophysiological Affective Responses to Sexual Violence and Their Associations with Rape Myths, Personality, and Sexual Traits: A Preliminary Study

Objective: Despite alarming evidence on sexual violence against women, little is known about men’s emotional responses to rape and how these may be involved in sexual violence dynamics. Accordingly, our aim was to capture how rape scenarios are emotionally appraised. Methods: The current study evaluated men’s (N = 30) self-reported and psychophysiological emotional responses (facial EMG, electrodermal activity) to a rape scene, and contrasted it with their responses to stimuli depicting nonsexual violence and nonviolent male-female interactions. The associations between men’s emotional responses and their endorsement of rape myths, personality, and sexual traits were also examined. Results: Findings revealed that the rape scene resulted in higher negative affect, both subjectively and indexed by increased facial EMG (corrugator activity), than the other two stimuli. Additionally, personality traits of neuroticism, lower agreeableness, lower consciousness, psychopathic tendencies, as well as lower sexual inhibition proneness, were all associated with higher subjective sexual arousal toward rape. Conclusions: Findings add to the literature on the putative emotional processes underpinning the appraisal of sexual violence against women.

Sexual Violence on Women in the View of Legal and Human Rights in Indonesia

Sexual violence is a term that refers to derivative sexual behavior or relationships that are distorted, harming the victim and destroying peace in society, for example, cases of sexual violence that occur to women (including girls) are carried out by those closest to them. Based on the fact sheets in the 2020 Komnas Perempuan Annual Records, sexual violence was perpetrated by 1,528 boyfriends, 425 biological fathers, 322 uncles, 205 stepfathers, 192 husbands, 89 siblings, and 58 biological grandfathers. This research is a normative legal research. One form of violence against women is sexual violence. From the available data it appears that sexual violence in places against women is as much as non-sexual violence. In our country's Criminal Code it only includes articles on rape or obscenity, this is what is then from a human rights perspective, the position of women's human rights feels humiliated and even abused, while human rights issues in our country already have rules that regulate and even guarantee human rights guarantees for everyone. namely Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights

Grievance-fueled sexual violence.

The grievance fueled violence paradigm encompasses various forms of targeted violence but has not yet been extended to the theoretical discussion of sexual violence. In this article, we argue that a wide range of sexual offenses can be usefully conceptualized as forms of grievance fueled violence. Indeed, our assertion that sexual violence is often grievance fueled is unoriginal. More than 40 years of sexual offending research has discussed the pseudosexual nature of much sexual offending, and themes of anger, power, and control - themes that draw clear parallels to the grievance fueled violence paradigm. Therefore, we consider the opportunities for theoretical and practical advancement through the merging of ideas and concepts from the two fields. We examine the scope of grievance in the context of understanding sexual violence, and we look to the role of grievance in the trajectory toward both sexual and nonsexual violence, as well as factors that might distinguish grievance fueled sexual from nonsexual violence. Finally, we discuss future research directions and make recommendations for clinical practice. Specifically, we suggest that grievance represents a promising treatment target where risk is identified for both sexual and nonsexual violence.

Predicting the Criminal Record of Spanish Stranger Rapists from Their Crime Scene Behaviours

ABSTRACT Despite the development of Offending Profiling models for Stranger Rapists in UK contexts, there has been little focus on the extent to which these models cross validate for other countries. Drawing upon offender profiling, cross-cultural and sex offending literature, 233 cases of sexual assault committed by stranger offenders (one offender, one victim) were analyzed to produce a Spanish Stranger Rapist model. Chi-square associations are considered between the characteristics of offenders and their crime scene behaviors. Significant associations were then entered into a binary logistic regression to explore which crime scene behaviors can be used to predict offenders’ prior convictions. The findings suggest a number of differences between UK and Spanish Stranger Rapists. Spanish Police Profilers could develop misleading profiles if reliant on UK-centric models. In the present study, we found that offenders’ diminished volitional and intellectual capacities predicts offenders’ psychiatric history, values stolen predicts offenders’ prior convictions for theft and non-sexual violence, and a surprise approach predicts a serial sexual offender. Further work is needed to confirm the validity and reliability of this Spanish model with a new larger sample of cases and to establish its usefulness for Spanish police investigations. The same methodology could be applied to other crime types, including Spanish homicide and sexual homicide.

Temporal order of sexual offending is risk-relevant for individuals with child sexual exploitation materials offences

The current study examined the extent to which the temporal order of sexual offending may be risk-relevant for men with Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM; also referred to as child pornography) offences. We categorized 85 men who had committed two distinct sexual offences (CSEM or contact sexual offence) into three groups: (1) 47% (n = 40) followed a stable pattern, that is, men with CSEM offences who then committed a new CSEM offence; (2) 41% (n = 35) followed a de-escalation pattern, that is, men with contact sexual offences who then committed a CSEM offence; (3) and 12% (n = 10) followed an escalation pattern, that is, men with CSEM offences who then committed a contact sexual offence. Compared to the other groups, the stable group had more sexual interest in children, the de-escalation group had a younger age at first police involvement and more prior offending, and the escalation group had more substance use problems. We then examined recidivism (any new offence after the second sexual offence) and found that the escalation group had the highest 5-year and 7-year reoffending rates (start of follow-up: opportunity after the second sexual offence) for any crime, any non-sexual violence, any violence (including contact sexual offences), and any contact sexual recidivism. The de-escalation and stable groups had the highest CSEM recidivism rates. The current study suggests that ordering of offending within men adjudicated for CSEM offences is risk-relevant and that those who fit the escalation pattern may be at higher risk to reoffend.

Adverse childhood experiences in Australian youth adjudicated for sexual offences and non-sexual violent offences

This study examines the differential childhood adversities experienced by two samples of Australian adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system: male youth who had been adjudicated for sexual offences and their counterparts who had been adjudicated for nonsexual violence. The sample is comprised of clients referred to a service that explicitly prioritises cases identified to be high risk, high need, and living in rural or remote areas. Male youth who had committed a sexual offence were more likely than their counterparts to have experienced emotional and sexual abuse and neglect in their childhoods. Alternatively, the childhoods of the comparison group were marked by characteristics of more general household dysfunction. Potential explanations for these findings are provided. The onset of sexual offending is presented as a possible consequence of poor attachment and emotional dysregulation and the impact of vicarious violence, and a chaotic family life are considered in the development of subsequent nonsexual violence. The implications of these findings for both clinical practice and future research are discussed.

What makes sexual violence different? Comparing the effects of sexual and non-sexual violence on psychological distress

Although drawing an equivalence between sexual and non-sexual violence has been critical to the feminist analysis of rape, the distinction between the two has not been the subject of much empirical research. Using the longitudinal component of the National Comorbidity Survey this study compares the long-term associations of sexual and non-sexual physical violence with psychological distress. In addition, it explores associations of sexual and physical violence with perceptions of self and others. The results reveal similarities and differences between the two types of violence. For psychological distress, the associations are statistically equivalent—both are positively associated with distress. But only sexual violence is associated with self-esteem, self-criticism, and attachment style. Survivors of sexual violence report much lower self-esteem and much more self-criticism. They are also much less likely to report a secure attachment style and, instead, report more interpersonal avoidance and anxiety. The association between sexual violence and perceptions of self and others explains much of the association between sexual violence and psychological distress, and differences in the associations are not driven by other measured characteristics of violence.

Nonsexual violence against children and adolescents: a study in a Latin American tertiary and university hospital.

Objective:The objective of this study was to assess interpersonal nonsexual violence against children and adolescents in a tertiary university hospital.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed in 240 patients under nonsexual violence situation for 15 consecutive years. Data analyses included demographic data, hospital referral site, type and author of nonsexual violence, legal referral, laboratorial and imaging examinations, and outcomes.Results:Nonsexual violence situation was diagnosed in 240 (0.1%) of 295,993 patients for 15 years: 148 (61.7%) in children and 92 (38.3%) in adolescents. Out of 240, the most frequent types of violence were negligence in 156 (65.0%), physical 62 (25.8%), psychological/emotional aggression 52 (21.7%), Munchausen by proxy syndrome 4 (1.7%), and bullying/cyberbullying in 3 (1.3%). Out of 123, the most common pediatric chronic conditions were chronic kidney disease 24 (19.5%), human immunodeficiency virus 14 (11.4%), prematurity 9 (7.3%), cerebral palsy 8 (6.5%), and asthma 8 (6.5%). Further comparison between children versus adolescent under nonsexual violence situation revealed significant difference between the hospital referral sites. The frequency of patients under violence referred from outpatient clinics was significantly reduced in children versus adolescents (27.7 vs. 62%), whereas emergency department was higher in the former group (57.4 vs. 25.0%; p<0.001). All types of violence situations and pediatric chronic conditions were similar in both groups (p>0.05).Conclusions:Nonsexual violence against our pediatric population was rarely diagnosed in a tertiary hospital, mainly negligence, physical, and psychological/emotional aggression. Approximately two-thirds of violence diagnosis occurred in children, referred mainly by the emergency department. In contrast, approximately one-third of violence diagnosis occurred in adolescents, referred mostly by outpatient clinics.

Early Treatment Change in Perpetrators of Sexual Versus Non-Sexual Violence.

The purpose of this study is to assess treatment change at both a group and individual level in a sample of 81 Dutch male patients who received mandated care for either violent (non-sexual) behavior or sexual violent behavior. Psychiatric nurses rated patients' social skills, insight, hostility, physical violence with the BEST-Index every 6 months over the course of 2 years after patients were admitted to hospital. Mixed analysis of covariances and the reliable change index indicated that patients, irrespective of offense type, showed treatment change over time with exception of physical violence. This study shows that general treatment may be useful in the first 18 month for risk factors common to different types of offenses, but that specialized treatment is needed to establish further change.

Assessing the Victimizaton-Offending Hypothesis of Sexual and Non-Sexual Violence in a Nationally Representative Sample of Incarcerated Men in the United States: Implications for Trauma-Informed Practice in Correctional Settings.

Rates of exposure to sexual and non-sexual physical violence and other adverse childhood events are greater among people who are incarcerated with convictions for offenses related to sexual and non-sexual violence compared to other incarcerated populations and the general community. Few studies have differentiated which types of prior adverse experiences are greatest predictors of sexual and non-sexual violent offenses. The following study investigated associations between experiencing sexual abuse as a child or adult; experiencing non-sexual physical violence during childhood, adulthood, or both; having a caretaker who uses drugs; being in foster care; growing up in socioeconomically marginalized conditions; and the likelihood of reporting a prior physical or sexual conviction. The sample consisted of 13,604 men incarcerated in state and federal prisons in the United States. Multinomial regression models compared convictions for sexual offenses and non-sexual violent offenses to all other crimes. A model also compared sexual offenses to non-sexual violent offenses to differentiate between types of adverse childhood experiences associated with sexual versus non-sexual violent offending. Models adjusted for race/ethnicity, education, and age. Results suggest that exposure to violence during childhood was significantly and violence during adulthood was insignificantly associated with increased risk of conviction for a non-sexual physical offense. Sexual violence victimization as a child only was associated with increased risk of conviction for sexual violence perpetration during adulthood. Foster care involvement was associated with increased risk of being convicted for a non-sexual violent offense. Findings suggest that different traumatic pathways may differentiate types of aggression in adulthood. Future research must evaluate if trauma-informed approaches should be catered to address the unique effects of sexual and non-sexual victimization and the perpetration of different types of aggression in adulthood.

Pourquoi l’évaluation structurée du risque de récidive violente et sexuelle est une pratique marginale en France ? Revue systématique de la littérature

IntroductionIn France, the recidivism of offenders (both sexual and non-sexual violence) is a national concern as evidenced by the media and the succession of laws relating to the prevention of recidivism. Risk assessment can be performed using unstructured professional judgment which is unreliable or by structured risk assessment which are more reliable. Abroad, this structured assessment is considerably developed. In France, it gives rise to two opposing positions: (i) encouragement by public authorities; and (ii) fear by a majority of professionals in the field. ObjectiveThis article offers a systematic literature review, meeting PRISMA criteria, on the perception and practice of standardized evaluation in France by the professionals concerned. MethodThe keywords “Risk assessment” AND “recurrence” AND “France” were searched in French and in English in the search engines Pubmed, PsycInfo, Cairn, and ScienceDirect. ResultsThe 23 articles obtained in the results highlighted: (a) fears and few advantages regarding the use of structured evaluation; (b) a possibility of a hybrid evaluation system in France; and (c) a report of some works already using scales of risk on French populations. This article focused mainly on the fears and perceived benefits of structured risk assessment. The reluctance has concerned both: (i) the French judicial system (fear of a new penology based only on the actuarial approach and its consequences); (ii) the professional valuers (fear of a confusion of professional's roles in health and justice fields); (iii) the persons assessed (fear of a risk of stigmatization of high-risk patients concerning violence); and (iv) the tools themselves (fear of a poor reliability of the risk assessment). Very few articles highlighted their advantages: reliability, simplicity of use, good inter-judge fidelity, guideline for care, and specially an ability to overcom the insufficient basis for the evaluation resulting from unstructured clinical judgment. Results also suggested the possibility of a hybrid evaluation system in France, which could rely on risk scales, without neglecting the interview and the qualitative collected information that have to respect precise steps and allow the management of offenders. Finally, this paper presented the few French studies using risk scales mainly focused both in sexual offenders’ risks and associated factors, and showing a better productivity of these scales than an unstructured professional judgment. Discussion and conclusionFears related to the structured risk assessments are important. However, these scales may also supply a better vision of offenders. They require skills of professionals from various fields and allow both a fairer assessment of the offender and a penal system more adjusted. This perceived reluctance seems to be due to a poor knowledge of structured assessment the risk scales and a lack of research studies using them in France, where it is necessary to have a broad reflection on their development in the future.