In developing countries violence is one of the most important determinants of trauma. Some patients recurring this situation are usually implicated in delinquency (or poses history of criminality). Is there any way to measure the degree of criminality in a clinical setting?
Clinical tools and assessments can measure patients' criminality or risk of criminal behaviour. Forensic psychology and psychiatry use these tools to address legal issues and mental health-law issues. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is used to diagnose psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder. This tool evaluates impulsivity, deceitfulness, and criminal history to determine a person's future criminal risk. The Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG) is another clinical tool that assesses violent behaviour risk. This tool evaluates age, substance abuse history, and criminal history to predict future violent behaviour. These assessment tools are not foolproof and should be used with other clinical assessments and observations. These tools should be used with ethical and legal safeguards to avoid unfairly stigmatising or discriminating against patients based on assessment scores.
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