Question 1

What is a characteristic associated with an increased likelihood of future criminal behaviour that is permanent or very difficult to change called?

Accepted Answer

A static risk factor is a characteristic or factor associated with an increased likelihood of future criminal behavior that is permanent or very difficult to change. It is a stable and unchanging factor that cannot be influenced through intervention or treatment. Examples of static risk factors include past criminal history, age at first offense, and gender.

Question 2

What is a characteristic associated with a decreased likelihood of future criminal behaviour called?

Accepted Answer

Protective factors are characteristics or circumstances that decrease the likelihood of future criminal behavior. Positive factors and ameliorative factors are not specific to criminal behavior, while counter-acting and mitigating factors may refer to factors that may decrease the severity or consequences of criminal behavior rather than the likelihood of engaging in it.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a dynamic risk factor?

Accepted Answer

Dynamic risk factors are those that can change over time, such as employment status. Being unemployed is a condition that can change, thus it is considered a dynamic risk factor. Choices B, C, and D are considered static risk factors because they do not change over time.

Question 4

Which risk assessment method removes human discretion and relies on a fixed and explicit set of predetermined rules to make the final decision about risk?

Accepted Answer

The actuarial method involves using statistical data and predetermined rules to make decisions about risk, removing human discretion. The other options involve some degree of professional judgment, either structured or unstructured.

Question 5

Which risk assessment method is exemplified by the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG)?

Accepted Answer

VRAG is an actuarial risk assessment method that uses statistical data and algorithms to calculate an individual's risk of future violent behavior based on past behavior and demographic factors.

Question 6

Which risk assessment method is exemplified by the HCR-20?

Accepted Answer

The HCR-20 is a tool used for structured professional judgment in assessing risk for violence and is not an actuarial method which uses statistical models to predict risk. It is also not an anamnestic approach which focuses on a patient's medical history in making the assessment. The tool is structured and objective, making it different from unstructured professional judgment, and it is not an adjusted-actuarial approach which combines both actuarial and professional judgment methods.

Question 7

Which of the following accurately lists the major risk assessment methods in order from least structured to most structured?

Accepted Answer

Unstructured professional judgment is the least structured, followed by anamnestic, structured professional judgment, and actuarial being the most structured.

Question 8

Whenever Ralph gets paid he goes to the liquor store and buys himself a 24 pack of beer, which he drinks in one sitting. By the time he is nearing the end of his beer, he is in a foul mood and he picks arguments with his wife, which escalates to physical violence. What is the sequence of factors that repeatedly lead to Ralph's assaults of his wife called?

Accepted Answer

The sequence of factors that repeatedly lead to Ralph's assaults of his wife is called an "Offence cycle." This term describes the repetitive pattern of behaviors, thoughts, or emotions that lead to offensive or criminal actions.

Question 9

Which risk assessment method focuses on uncovering the sequence of personal and situational factors that led to past offending on the assumption that if a similar sequence of events re-appears in the future, the offender is likely to commit another offence?

Accepted Answer

The anamnestic approach focuses on examining the offender's personal and situational history to uncover the sequence of events that led to past offending. This approach assumes that if similar factors reappear in the future, the offender is likely to reoffend.

Question 10

Which of the following is a weakness associated with the unstructured professional judgment method of risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

The unstructured professional judgment method of risk assessment is criticized for suffering from low interrater reliability, lacking transparency, and exhibiting relatively poor accuracy. These weaknesses stem from the subjective nature of the assessment, leading to variability in interpretations and conclusions among different professionals.

Question 11

What term is used for the original group of participants studied to develop a new psychological test or assessment tool?

Accepted Answer

The term used for the original group of participants studied to develop a new psychological test or assessment tool is the construction sample. This sample is used to create the initial version of the test, which is then refined and validated using larger samples in subsequent studies. The other options (A) source sample, (B) control group, (D) psychometric group, and (E) participant pool are either not relevant or not specific enough to describe the construction sample.

Question 12

In the risk assessment context, the so-called clinical versus actuarial debate centres on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The clinical versus actuarial debate focuses on whether risk assessments should rely on human judgment (clinical) or statistical formulas (actuarial), highlighting the role of human discretion in determining risk levels.

Question 13

According to the "nothing works" mantra that dominated criminological thinking during the late 1970s and 1980s, which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

The "nothing works" mantra suggested that rehabilitation programs and offender treatments were ineffective in reducing re-offending rates.

Question 14

RNR model represents one approach to offender treatment. The acronym RNR stands for risk, need, and which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The RNR model stands for Risk, Need, and Responsivity. Responsivity refers to the idea that treatment programs should be tailored to the individual offender's learning style, motivation, and abilities to ensure the best possible outcome. The other options listed (reduction, responsibility, reinforcement, respect) do not accurately complete the RNR acronym.

Question 15

The need principle of the RNR model of offender treatment specifies that treatment should target which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The need principle of the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model emphasizes targeting dynamic risk factors, which are changeable aspects of an individual's behavior or environment that can be modified through interventions. Static risk factors, on the other hand, cannot be changed.

Question 16

According to the risk principle of the RNR model of offender treatment, which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

The risk principle of the RNR model states that the highest risk offenders should receive the most treatment. This principle is based on the idea that resources should be directed towards those offenders who are most likely to reoffend in order to prevent further criminal behavior. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Question 17

Offender X did not finish elementary school and has great difficulty reading and writing. The officials responsible for X's treatment have adapted some aspects of the program so that the written materials are read aloud and X gives oral instead of written responses to the homework questions. The adaptations made for X reflect which RNR principle?

Accepted Answer

The adaptations made for Offender X reflect the RNR principle of specific responsivity because they are tailored to their individual learning difficulties and allow them to fully participate in the program despite their difficulties with reading and writing. The other principles, need, general responsivity, and risk, may also be relevant to X's treatment but are not specifically reflected in these adaptations.

Question 18

What is one of the major criticisms levelled against the RNR model of offender treatment?

Accepted Answer

The RNR (Risk-Need-Responsivity) model is often criticized for being unappealing to offenders, which can result in a lack of motivation to engage in treatment.

Question 19

The GLM is an approach to offender treatment. What does the acronym GLM stand for?

Accepted Answer

The GLM stands for Good Lives Model, which is an approach to offender treatment that focuses on identifying and meeting the individual needs of offenders to help them lead fulfilling lives without criminal behavior.

Question 20

The GLM approach to offender treatment uses which term to refer to personal characteristics, states of mind, and experiences that people value and promote their psychological health?

Accepted Answer

The GLM approach to offender treatment uses the term "primary human goods" to refer to personal characteristics, states of mind, and experiences that people value and promote their psychological health. These primary human goods include things like friendship, knowledge, achievement, and autonomy.

Quiz 13: Assessment and Treatment