title: Reliability of sexually violent predator civil commitment criteria in Florida.
abstract: The present study investigated the reliability of Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) civil commitment criteria under Florida's Jimmy Ryce Act. The purpose of the study was to determine if, independently, 2 evaluators would reach the same conclusions about the same client (n = 295). According to civil commitment criteria outlined by the United States Supreme Court (Kansas v. Hendricks, 1997), SVPs must display a mental abnormality predisposing them to sexual violence and a likelihood of future sexual violence. The interrater reliability of 8 DSM-IV diagnoses applied by evaluators to determine whether a client has a "mental abnormality that predisposes him to sexual violence" was found to be poor to fair (kappa = .23 to . 70). The interrater reliability of risk assessment instruments used to determine "likelihood of reoffense" was good (ICC = .77 to .85). The recommendations made by evaluators regarding whether or not to refer a client for civil commitment demonstrated poor reliability (kappa = .54). Implications for practice and policy are explored.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, ECS 460, Miami, Florida 33199, USA. jsljwm@bellsouth.net
authors.forename: Jill S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Levenson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015588:Observer Variation; D010262:Paraphilic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012448:Sadism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data