Judging the risk of violence in schools, hospitals, jails or the home is an important topic in today’s modern world. As we begin to understand the mechanisms of the brain, the scientific and medical world have devised scales to rate the risk of an individual’s chance of committing violence against another. Violence risk assessment is a tool used in many facilities and companies to help determine the likelihood of future violent behavior. Schools, hospitals, and jails have the option to undergo violence risk assessment training to ensure officials understand the level of risk posed by an individual and how to handle those situations when they arise. There are many types of risk assessment scales, but the following are some of the most commonly used techniques.

The Danger Assessment Instrument (DA)

The DA is a risk assessment designed for women who are or have been in an abusive relationship with an intimate partner. This assessment test is used to rate the risk of potentially lethal violence against the partner.

The Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI)

Similar to the Danger Assessment Instrument, the DVSI is a task designed to assess the risk of repeated domestic violence. However, this test uses information from an offender’s criminal record after their arrest.

The Jail Screening Assessment Tool

This risk assessment was designed to identify prisoners with mental health needs. By properly identifying mental disorders in prisoners, professionals can provide the proper treatment which, in turn, could help decrease the chances of repeat offenses.

The Rapid Risk Assessment for Sexual Offense Recidivism (RRASOR)

RRASOR is a screening tool specifically for sexual violence. This risk assessment will judge the chances of an inmate sexually reoffending if released.

The Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY)

Designed specifically for adolescents, SAVRY is used as both a violence risk assessment tool and a way to design management plans for the child.

By efficiently and accurately predicting the factors that lead to violence, law enforcement, hospitals, and schools can help prevent situations before they become detrimental to everyone involved.