Probation & Parole

Risk Assessment in Parole Decision-Making

Criminal justice systems around the world use risk assessment instruments (RAIs). They were developed to predict the statistical likelihood that justice-involved individuals might achieve a specific outcome, like recidivism, based on how similar they are to a sample population. Researchers use sample populations to draw conclusions. These conclusions are then used to create assessment instruments. The instruments are validated or tested for accuracy by using them with people from groups that are similar to the sample population. Once they are...