Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
Putting responsivity into risk assessment: the use of the Structured Assessment of Risk and Need (SARN) with sexual offenders who have an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- HOCKEN Kerensa, WINDER Belinda, GRAYSON Andy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 4(3/4), 2013, pp.77-89.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevance of the Structured Assessment of Risk and Need (SARN) for sexual offenders with intellectual disability (ID). Design/methodology/approach: A thematic analysis was conducted on the transcript of a discussion group of experts who work with sex offenders with ID in custody. Findings: The principal concern of the researchers at the outset of the paper was that the risk factors within the SARN might not be relevant to sexual offenders with an intellectual disability. However, what emerged from the analysis was that, from the perspective of expert practitioners, the limitations of the SARN with respect to working with sex offenders with ID is as much to do with the way in which it is administered, as it is to do with its “content”. Practical implications: The process of risk assessment is critical when assessing risk with sex offenders with ID, highlighting the importance of incorporating responsivity principles into the risk assessment process. Originality/value: The paper encourages risk assessors to rethink their assumptions about indicators of risk and progress and provides guidance about how practitioners can assess risk more effectively with sex offenders with ID. (Publisher abstract)
Doing good risk assessment with intellectual disability offenders
- Author:
- HOCKEN Kerensa
- Journal article citation:
- Prison Service Journal, 208, 2013, pp.31-36.
- Publisher:
- Her Majesty's Prison Service of England and Wales
An essential element to completing risk assessments for prisoners is the prisoner interview. This allows for the exploration and clarification of their history, and any progress made in reducing or managing their risk. The author looks at some of the issues to consider when caring out a risk assessment with offenders with learning disabilities. The author discusses the characteristics of intellectual disability; problems encountered with risk assessment interviews of prisoners with intellectual disabilities; suggestions for interviewing. (Original abstract)