The association between presentence risk evaluations and sentencing outcome
Faculty Advisor
Date
2015
Keywords
risk assessment, sentencing, incarceration, level of service measures, HCR-20
Abstract (summary)
Presentence risk evaluations are routinely submitted to judges prior to sentencing with the goal of guiding treatment recommendations and informing sentencing decisions. Empirical research has yet to examine this association. In the present study, the correspondence between presentence risk evaluations and sentencing outcomes was explored using the files of 165 offenders who had completed LSI-R, LS/CMI, and/or HCR-20 protocols. We found that sentencing outcome was associated with risk assessment scores, particularly from the Level of Service Measures. This study's findings suggest that presentence risk evaluations have a strong association with the sentencing decisions of the judiciary, suggesting that sentencing procedures may reflect evidence-based practice.
Publication Information
Jung, S., Ennis, L., Brown, K., & Ledi, D. (2015). The association between presentence risk evaluations and sentencing outcome. Applied Psychology in Criminal Justice, 11(2), 111-125. Retrieved from http://www.apcj.org
DOI
Notes
Item Type
Article
Language
English
Rights
All Rights Reserved