Interrater reliability, concurrent validity, and predictive validity of the risk for sexual violence protocol

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Criminology

Background:

• Structured professional judgment (SPJ) guidelines are crucial for assessing and managing sexual violence risk.
• The Risk for Sexual Violence Protocol (RSVP) is a widely utilized SPJ tool in forensic and clinical settings.
• Empirical evaluation is necessary to confirm the reliability and validity of SPJ tools like the RSVP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically evaluate the risk judgments made using the Risk for Sexual Violence Protocol (RSVP).
• To assess the interrater reliability, concurrent validity, and predictive validity of the RSVP.
• To compare the RSVP's performance against established actuarial tools for sexual violence risk assessment.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 100 adult male sexual offenders who completed treatment was assessed using the RSVP and two actuarial tools.
• Ratings were based on file reviews by research assistants.
• Recidivism data were collected from official records for 10 years post-treatment.

Main Results:

• RSVP risk factor ratings demonstrated moderate to almost perfect interrater reliability.
• Concurrent validity was supported by moderate to large correlations between RSVP judgments and actuarial tool scores.
• RSVP scores were predictive of future sexual violence, with effect sizes comparable to actuarial tools.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the practical utility and effectiveness of the RSVP in sexual violence risk assessment.
• The RSVP shows strong psychometric properties, including reliability and validity.
• The study reinforces the value of the RSVP in informing risk management decisions for sexual offenders.