Some argue that risk/needs assessments are predictive for everyone, others say that there should be instruments that take gender into account because women have unique needs, different then mens'. But what about race and/or class? We can't assume that a while, middle class female offender will have the same risk factors/needs as an African-American, lower class female offender, can we? Should risk/needs assessments take intersectionality into account in their development and administration?
Hello
The common tests to confirm risk are not culturaly sensitive, thats right.
On the other hand we can not develop a test for each oriigin or status.
The tests are looking for behavior patterns whoch does not affected by origin, class etc.
Hello,
I am agree with you. The reality is complex. We can't explain a behavior a way of life just taking to account genders' element. Discriminations for some people categories are multiple (gender, culture, social class). If you want to look at intersectionality factors I thinks you have to make interviews or observations, if you want to observe domination intrications which are subjectives. Qualitative method would be more adapted to this purhaps. Do you know the concept of "consubstantiality" ?
Behavior patterns are not affected by gender, class, or race? I respectfully disagree with that statement. Risk/needs assessments (not just risk) tap into behaviors that could absolutely be influenced by culture, gender, or other variables. For example, race/culture/class affects education level and/or employment status.
I'm so glad you asked this question! I want to explore differences in risk/criminogenic needs by race and gender for my dissertation. One would assume if there are distinct differences in the etiology of criminal behavior and offense patterns across gender, class, and race that risk assessment tools should reflect such differences.
There is research showing that the Psychopathy Checklist - Revised, a commonly used measure in criminal justice contexts, operates somewhat differently for men and women, and for Americans of European vs African descent (eg http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/abn/99/3/250)
In Canada, there was a recent, controversial legal decision regarding the validity of commonly used risk measures for Aboriginal offenders
https://www.usask.ca/nativelaw/news/2015/ewert-v.-canada.php
I am not sure of the meaning of your concept intersectional. Risk tools are not as accurate as many believe. Search for the work of Jennifer Skeem and John Monohan, where in various articles, the concept of risk assessment is challenged. More research needs to be conducted on the reasons for using risk assessments with questionable reliability and validity.
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