Citation

Ward T. Psychol. Crime Law 2016; 22(1-2): 2-16.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/1068316X.2015.1109094

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There are a number of theoretical problems evident in the concept of dynamic risk factors that arise from their (increasing) importation into the explanatory and treatment domains of forensic and correctional practice. More specifically: (a) the concept of dynamic risk factors has not been well defined; (b) relatedly, there is a lack of clarity whether dynamic risk factors refer to causal processes or are predictive constructs; and finally (c) because of the above problems no one is sure how best to integrate them into clinical assessment and treatment. I will examine each of these three conceptual problems in this paper and make some suggestions about how to utilise dynamic risk factors in explanations of offending.

Language: en

Keywords

sex offenders; dynamic risk factors; correctional and forensic psychology