The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA)

Stephen D. HartStephen D. HartSimon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser University

Part 1

IntroductionIntroduction

Spousal Assault

Actual, attempted, or threatened harm Actual, attempted, or threatened harm perpetrated against a current or former perpetrated against a current or former intimate partnerintimate partner includes fear-inducing behavior(“stalking”)includes fear-inducing behavior(“stalking”) ignores gender of victim and perpetratorignores gender of victim and perpetrator ignores legal status of intimate relationshipignores legal status of intimate relationship

SA as a Choice

The proximal cause of spousal assault is a The proximal cause of spousal assault is a decision to act violentlydecision to act violently

The decision is influenced by a host of The decision is influenced by a host of biological, psychological, and social factorsbiological, psychological, and social factors Neurological insult, hormonal abnormalityNeurological insult, hormonal abnormality Psychosis, personality disorderPsychosis, personality disorder Exposure to violent models, attitudes that Exposure to violent models, attitudes that

condone violencecondone violence

Prevalence

Spousal assault (SA) is a major threat to the Spousal assault (SA) is a major threat to the well-being of womenwell-being of women lifetime risk of victimization is about 25%lifetime risk of victimization is about 25% one-year risk of victimization is about 12%one-year risk of victimization is about 12% accounts for about 50% of all violent crimes accounts for about 50% of all violent crimes

reported to policereported to police at least 25-35% of all adult male offenders are at least 25-35% of all adult male offenders are

known to have committed spousal assaultknown to have committed spousal assault recidivism rate of perpetrators is substantial recidivism rate of perpetrators is substantial

Issue

Domestic violence is a greater problem in the Domestic violence is a greater problem in the criminal justice system than any other form of criminal justice system than any other form of violence, including robbery, sexual violence, or violence, including robbery, sexual violence, or stalkingstalking

Risk assessment is a cornerstone of offender Risk assessment is a cornerstone of offender managementmanagement Sentencing and release decisionsSentencing and release decisions Treatment planningTreatment planning Safety planning for survivorsSafety planning for survivors

Role of SA Risk Assessment

Criminal justiceCriminal justice Charges, bail, sentencing, correctional Charges, bail, sentencing, correctional

programming, probation, parole, restraining programming, probation, parole, restraining orders, duty to warn/protectorders, duty to warn/protect

Civil justiceCivil justice Custody, visitation, culpability for harmCustody, visitation, culpability for harm

OtherOther Treatment, advocacy/support, educationTreatment, advocacy/support, education

Violence Risk Assessment

Evaluations of people to:Evaluations of people to: Characterize the risk they will commit violence in Characterize the risk they will commit violence in

the futurethe future Develop interventions to manage riskDevelop interventions to manage risk

The clinical task is to:The clinical task is to: Understand how and why people chose to act Understand how and why people chose to act

violently in the pastviolently in the past Determine whether these or other factors might lead Determine whether these or other factors might lead

the person to make similar choices in the future the person to make similar choices in the future

Goals of Risk Assessment

Prevent violencePrevent violence

More specifically...More specifically... Guide intervention Guide intervention Improve consistency of decisionsImprove consistency of decisions Improve transparency of decisionsImprove transparency of decisions

Protect clients’ rightsProtect clients’ rights Liability managementLiability management

Nature of Violence Risk

Violence risk is a multi-faceted constructViolence risk is a multi-faceted construct Nature: what kinds of violence might occur?Nature: what kinds of violence might occur? Severity: how serious might the violence be?Severity: how serious might the violence be? Frequency: how often might violence occur?Frequency: how often might violence occur? Imminence: how soon might violence occur?Imminence: how soon might violence occur? Likelihood: what is the probability that Likelihood: what is the probability that

violence might occur?violence might occur?

Why Professional Guidelines?

““Raw” clinical Raw” clinical prediction doesn’t prediction doesn’t work well:work well: unreliableunreliable low accuracy low accuracy

(validity)(validity) not accountablenot accountable

Actuarial prediction Actuarial prediction doesn’t work well:doesn’t work well: inflexibleinflexible poor content poor content

appropriatenessappropriateness optimized (specific to optimized (specific to

sample, outcome sample, outcome criterion, and time of criterion, and time of follow-up)follow-up)

Why Professional Guidelines? (cont.)

Incorporates literature/scienceIncorporates literature/science Incorporates clinical knowledgeIncorporates clinical knowledge

analogous to medical guidelinesanalogous to medical guidelines Structures and informs decisions that are Structures and informs decisions that are

already being madealready being made

Specific Guidelines Make Sense General violence measures are a good General violence measures are a good

place to start, but can be misusedplace to start, but can be misused Hare Psychopathy Checklist - Revised Hare Psychopathy Checklist - Revised Violence Risk Appraisal GuideViolence Risk Appraisal Guide

Informed assessment improves upon Informed assessment improves upon traditional assessmenttraditional assessment many risk factors mistaken for “sympathy” many risk factors mistaken for “sympathy”

factors (e.g., suicidality, childhood factors (e.g., suicidality, childhood victimization, employment problems) victimization, employment problems)

Part 2

Content of the SARAContent of the SARA

Development of the SARA

Review of clinical and empirical literatureReview of clinical and empirical literature Format decisionFormat decision

Guide/aide memoire versus psychological testGuide/aide memoire versus psychological test Selection of risk factorsSelection of risk factors

Few, supported in literature, not discriminatory, Few, supported in literature, not discriminatory, static and dynamic, easily codedstatic and dynamic, easily coded

Consultation with clinicians and academicsConsultation with clinicians and academics

SARA Items: Criminal History

Past assault of family membersPast assault of family members Past assault of strangers/acquaintancesPast assault of strangers/acquaintances Past violation of conditional release or Past violation of conditional release or

community supervisioncommunity supervision

SARA: Psychosocial Adjustment

Recent relationship problemsRecent relationship problems Recent employment problemsRecent employment problems Victim of and/or witness to family violenceVictim of and/or witness to family violence Recent substance abuse/dependenceRecent substance abuse/dependence Recent suicidal or homicidal ideation/intentRecent suicidal or homicidal ideation/intent Recent psychotic and/or manic symptomsRecent psychotic and/or manic symptoms Personality disorderPersonality disorder

Special Case: The Personality Disordered Offender

Borderline PersonalityBorderline Personality What is it?What is it? Why does it matter?Why does it matter?

Psychopathic PersonalityPsychopathic Personality What is it?What is it? Why does it matter?Why does it matter?

relationship to violence and recidivismrelationship to violence and recidivism relationship to treatmentrelationship to treatment

SARA: Spousal Assault History

Past physical assaultPast physical assault Past sexual assault/sexual jealousyPast sexual assault/sexual jealousy Past use of weapons and/or threats of deathPast use of weapons and/or threats of death Recent escalation in severity or frequencyRecent escalation in severity or frequency Past violation of no-contact ordersPast violation of no-contact orders Extreme minimization or denialExtreme minimization or denial Attitudes that support or condone assaultAttitudes that support or condone assault

SARA Items: Current Offense

Severe and/or sexual assaultSevere and/or sexual assault Use of weapons and/or threats of deathUse of weapons and/or threats of death Violation of no-contact ordersViolation of no-contact orders

» Note: Can substitute “Most recent” for “Current”Note: Can substitute “Most recent” for “Current”

Summary of Items

General ViolenceGeneral Violence risk factors risk factors Criminal history variablesCriminal history variables Psychosocial variablesPsychosocial variables ““Part 1” of SARA formPart 1” of SARA form

Spousal AssaultSpousal Assault risk factors risk factors Spousal assault variablesSpousal assault variables Current or most recent offenseCurrent or most recent offense ““Part 2” of SARA formPart 2” of SARA form

Contact Information: Stephen D. Hart, Ph.D.Stephen D. Hart, Ph.D.

Department of PsychologyDepartment of PsychologySimon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, British ColumbiaBurnaby, British ColumbiaCanada V5A 1S6Canada V5A 1S6Tel: 604.291.5485 / Fax: 604.291.3427Tel: 604.291.5485 / Fax: 604.291.3427E-mail: shart@arts.sfu.caE-mail: shart@arts.sfu.caURL: www.sfu.ca/psychology/groups/faculty/hartURL: www.sfu.ca/psychology/groups/faculty/hart