Web resource:	http://www.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/rs/rep/2005/rr05fv-1/fv-1.pdf
Type:	Report
Title:	The development of the brief spousal assault from for the evaluation of risk (B-Safer) : a tool for criminal justice professionals
Authors:	Hart, Stephen D Kropp, P. Randall
Keywords:	Policy;Criminal justice responses;Screening;Risk factors;Risk assessment
Year:	2004
Publisher:	Department of Justice Canada
Notes:	This report outlines the development and pilot testing of the Brief Spousal Assault Form for the Evaluation of Risk (B-SAFER) in Canada. The aims are to: improve the ability of criminal justice personnel to assess risk in spousal abuse cases; help criminal justice staff obtain information to assess risk; help victims plan strategies to increase safety; and prevent further and more serious incidents of domestic violence. Section 1 gives an overview of the project and consultations with experts in risk assessment and spousal violence. Section 2 describes various models of risk assessment. Three models are reviewed: unstructured clinical decision making, actuarial decision making and structured professional judgment. It is suggested that the structured professional judgment seems to be the method that is most appropriate for criminal justice personnel. Section 3 presents the process in developing from a longer risk assessment tool (Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide / SARA) to a shorter B-SAFER tool. It also provides a literature review, empirical data reduction analyses of the SARA, pilot testing in Sweden of a 20-item police risk assessment tool (SARA-Police Version), and the final format of the B-SAFER used for pilot testing. Section 4 outlines the pilot testing of B-SAFER in 6 police agencies in Canada and 3 jurisdictions in Sweden. Quantitative analyses on their data are given along with qualitative feedback. Results suggest that the B-SAFER tool includes relevant risk factors in spousal assault cases; that the tool can be easily coded by police during routine investigations; and officers found the tool to be helpful and easy to use. It concludes that the tool is appropriate and can be used by law enforcement agencies in Canada. It also includes a user manual in Appendix B. The B-SAFER victim interview form is attached in Appendix C and the post-test B-SAFER Worksheet Form is provided in Appendix D.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/19044
Physical description:	74 p.
Appears in Collections:	Reports

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