Citation

McCann JT. J. Threat Assess. 2001; 1(3): 81-90.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J177v01n03_04

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The relationship between threatening behavior and victim-directed violence was examined in a convenience sample of 26 stalking cases involving a child or adolescent perpetrator. Overall, the base rate for violence in the sample was 38% and the base rate of threatening behavior was 65%. When threatening behavior directed toward the victim was used as a predictor of subsequent violence, the sensitivity was 0.80, specificity was 0.44, positive predictive power was 0.47, and negative predictive power was 0.78. The overall classification rate of violence was only 58% when threats were used as a predictor. There was a non-significant, negative relationship between threats and violence. Results are compared with findings that have emerged in stalking research on adult populations and various suggestions are offered for further study of the potential for violence in cases involving children and adolescents.