title: Predictive accuracy of dynamic risk factors for aboriginal and non-aboriginal sex offenders: an exploratory comparison using STABLE-2007.
abstract: Although Aboriginal offenders are overrepresented in Canadian prisons, there is limited research examining the extent to which commonly used risk factors and risk scales are applicable to Aboriginals. Aboriginal (n = 88) and non-Aboriginal (n = 509) sex offenders on community supervision were compared on the dynamic risk factors of STABLE-2007. Data on sexual, violent, any crime, and any recidivism (including breaches) were collected with an average follow-up of 3.4 years. Aboriginal offenders scored significantly higher than non-Aboriginal offenders on STABLE-2007 total scores and on several items measuring general criminality. STABLE-2007 did not significantly predict recidivism with Aboriginal offenders (although it did for non-Aboriginals). The general antisociality items were generally significantly less predictive for Aboriginals than non-Aboriginals, whereas items assessing sexual self-regulation and relationship stability predicted similarly for both groups. These exploratory results suggest that Aboriginal sex offenders are a higher-needs group but that some STABLE-2007 items are not predictive with this population.
authors.affiliation: Public Safety Canada, 340 Laurier Avenue West, 10th floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P8, Canada. leslie.helmus@ps.gc.ca
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Helmus
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Babchishin
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D057237:Criminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D044382:Population Groups; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*