Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Communication, 1996-1998

This data collection is designed to examine factors influencing the validity of violence risk assessment and risk communication, and it covers three surveys: (1) 1996 Clinical Judgements Survey, (2) 1997 Dangerousness Survey, and (3) 1998 Survey. In all three surveys, forensic psychologists and psychiatrists were shown case summaries of patients hospitalized with mental disorders and were asked to judge the likelihood that the patient would harm someone within six months after discharge from the hospital. The respondents also judged whether the patients posed a high risk, medium risk, or low risk of harming someone after discharge, how closely the mental health center is recommended to monitor the patient's condition, and the likelihood of rehospitalization. Other background information were collected regarding the respondents' assessments distribution, average number of patients per week, and opinions on survey formats. Demographic on respondents includes age, gender, year receiving the doctor's degree, and whether they work for forensic facility full-time or consult for courts.