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Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
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Different Actuarial Risk Measures Produce Different Risk Rankings for Sexual Offenders

Howard E. Barbaree

Law and Mental Health Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto, M6J 1H4, Canada, howard-barbaree{at}camh.net

Calvin M. Langton

University of Nottingham, and Peaks Unit, Rampton Hospital, Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust, Nottinghamshire, England

Edward J. Peacock

Correctional Services of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Percentile ranks were computed for N = 262 sex offenders using each of 5 actuarial risk instruments commonly used with adult sex offenders (RRASOR, Static-99, VRAG, SORAG, and MnSOST-R). Mean differences between percentile ranks obtained by different actuarial measures were found to vary inversely with the correlation between the actuarial scores. Following studies of factor analyses of actuarial items, we argue that the discrepancies among actuarial instruments can be substantially accounted for by the way in which the factor Antisocial Behavior and various factors reflecting sexual deviance are represented among the items contained in each instrument. In the discussion, we provide guidance to clinicians in resolving discrepancies between instruments and we discuss implications for future developments in sex offender risk assessment.

Key Words: Actuarial assessment • Sex offenders • Recidivism • Percentile ranks

Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, Vol. 18, No. 4, 423-440 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/107906320601800408
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