title: Sexually violent predators: the risky enterprise of risk assessment.
abstract: Forensic experts are increasingly asked to consult in sexually violent predator (SVP) determinations. The substantive criteria for SVP standards vary substantially across jurisdictions, but typically include complex judgments regarding volitional impairment and predictive statements focused specifically on sexual violence. A common but questionable practice is the retrofitting of generic risk-assessment measures to address SVP criteria. The marked deficiencies of these measures in addressing the relevant questions, coupled with their methodological limitations, are noted. SVP determinations demand rigorous evaluations of relevant factors that are buttressed by empirically validated methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, PO Box 311280, Denton, 76203-1280, USA. rogers_1@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D014836:Volition