Risk assessment/violence prediction, juvenile offenders

Violence risk assessment in juveniles refers to the attempt to predict the likelihood of future violence in minors. Risk assessments are commonly conducted within the juvenile justice system to predict reoffending risk and to inform custody, diversion, sentencing, release, and treatment decisions. Thus, the findings of the risk assessment process can have serious consequences for the individual offender as well as public safety. Historically, instruments used for the assessment of violence risk in juveniles have been actuarial in nature, focusing on the prediction of risk with little attention directed to individualized risk management. More recently, however, structured professional judgment instruments have been developed, focusing on risk management rather than risk prediction. Regardless of their approach, juvenile risk assessment instruments, in contrast to their adult counterparts, place a greater emphasis on protective factors and the management of violence risk.