Blue Resources

FAQ  (Compiled by SFU Phd Students Jen Storey, Kim Reeves, Andrea Gibas)


What are the benefits of joining CATAP?
What is a threat assessment?
When can a threat assessment be useful?
Can a threat assessment accurately predict future violence?
Is there more than one type of threat assessment tool?
Who can use threat assessment tools? 
Do I need specific training to use SPJ tools?
Where can I receive training in threat assessment?
How is a threat assessment conducted?
Where can I find threat assessment tools (e.g., HCR-20)?
There is more than one tool available for the same topic. How do I know when to use one over the other?
When should I use the B-SAFER instead of the SARA?
Should I use the HCR-20 or the SAVRY with a 14 year old?
Is the PCL-R or PCL:SV a threat assessment tool?
Index abbreviations

What are the benefits of joining CATAP?

The benefits of a CATAP membership include;

  • Networking with other CATAP members
  • Sharing your professional knowledge
  • Obtaining discounts on training
  • Adding an important element (i.e., threat assessment knowledge) to your resume

What is threat assessment?

A threat assessment is a critical part of the decision-making process in criminal justice,mental health, workplace and school settings. It is an evaluation of a person for the purpose of:

(1) Figuring out the what the risk is that the person will commit future violence (e.g. low, moderate or high risk) and,

(2) Coming up with management strategies that can be put in place to reduce the person’s violence risk (e.g. peace bond, mental health assessment, etc.).

When can a threat assessment be useful?

Threat assessments can help you to develop specific management strategies for your case in order to prevent future violence. They can also be useful in a number of different criminal justice and mental health contexts such as peace bonds, bail or sentencing, parole, civil commitment for “dangerous” or “high risk” sex offenders, child custody cases, review board hearings, and correctional intake and discharge.

Can a threat assessment accurately predict future violence?

 No, predicting violence is not the goal of threat assessment. The goal is to reduce the likelihood of future violence. The likelihood of violence is reduced by figuring out what risk factors are present in the case (e.g. substance abuse, metal health issues etc.) and managing those risk factors (e.g. condition to abstain from alcohol and drugs, mental health treatment).

Is there more than one type of threat assessment tool?

There are a number of different types of threat assessment tools available. The major difference between the types is how structured they are. The two types that are most often used are:

  • Actuarial tools

Actuarial tools use previous research on risk factors and recidivism to create a formula that gives you a probability that future violence will happen. When using the tool you indicate if the risk factors listed are present or absent and then you add up the values to get a total score. The total score corresponds to a specific level of risk of future violence (e.g. 30%) over a given period of time (e.g. over the next 5 years).

Benefit - Increase in consistency because you do not use personal judgment.

Drawback – You can’t use it for all people, for example most can’t be used on female offenders. Also, the prediction is based on the statistics for a group so you can never be sure what the individual you are assessing will do.

  • Structured professional judgment tools 

Structured professional judgment (SPJ), tools let you use your own judgment but also give you structure by providing you with a list of risk factors to consider. SPJ tools suggest what risk factors you should consider but you do not add those factors to get a final score. Instead the final risk decision is left to you (e.g., low, moderate, or high risk).

Benefit – They take dynamic risk factors or risk factors that change over time (e.g. anger, substance abuse) into account.

Drawback – Different raters can come to different conclusions, however studies have shown that raters usually do agree.

Who can use threat assessment tools? 

Individuals using Structured Professional Judgment tools (e.g., HCR-20) should meet the following minimum qualifications:

1) Expertise in individual assessment such as formal training and/or work-related experience in psychological, psychiatric, social work, nursing, or correctional assessment.

2) Expertise in the specific area  in which you are conducting the assessment (e.g., sexual violence, domestic violence) such as, formal coursework, knowledge of the relevant literature, work-related experience.

When coding mental health items (e.g. personality disorder) users who are not mental health professionals should do one of the following;

  • Code the items based on existing psychological or psychiatric reports,
  • Code the items as provisional or,(how can we say this better?)
  • Leave out items, just make a note of any limitations in your assessment of risk (e.g. the risk level might be higher is I knew this item was present).


Each risk assessment tool has a section on “user qualifications” which you can look at.

Do I need specific training to use SPJ tools?

The authors of the RSVP, one of the SPJ tools, recommend training which should include the following things:

  1. Reading the manual.
  2. Finding and reading any new knowledge or research about the type of violence or the tools that has come out since the tool was published.
  3. Do practice cases using case files.
  4. Complete real cases while under supervision or while consulting with experienced colleagues.


Basic training will likely require between 16 and 32 hours of studying.

Where can I receive training in threat assessment?

There are several organizations that provide training;

  • CATAP has begun offering more specific training in threat assessment and intends to do so annually.
  • The American Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) holds an annual conference where training is available (www.atap.com)
  • The Vancouver Police Department holds a two week course on threat assessment every year in February (training will not be offered in 2010).
  • Other police departments also hold annual courses such as the Edmonton RCMP, and the OPP in Orillia, Ontario.
  • Several private organizations offer training, such as ProActive Resolutions and Work Trauma Services.

How is a threat assessment conducted?

The steps you should take include;

  • If possible you should interview the target
  • You should review any available file information
  • You should review information from collateral sources (e.g. wife, co-workers etc.)
  • You should review any testing if the assessment is being conducted in a clinical setting.
  • You then use this information to determine which risk factors are present
  • If you don’t have enough information to code a risk factor, you should omit it.
  • The final threat assessment document can be anything from an e-mail to a written report.
  • The document should include:


i) the details of the case,
ii) the relevant risk factors,
iii) your plans to manage those risk factors, and
iv) the level of risk you feel the person poses (low, moderate or high).

Where can I find threat assessment tools (e.g., HCR-20)?

A good general website for all risk assessment tools is, http://www.violence-risk.com/risk/instruments.htm 

Structured Professional Judgment (SPJ) tools can be ordered from;ProActive Resolutions (http://www.proactive-resolutions.com/bookletsmanuals/tam.html.). These include the HCR-20, SARA, B-SAFER, SVR-20, RSVP, SAVRY and the SAM.

The WAVR-21 (for workplace violence) can be obtained from. http://www.specializedtraining.com/products.php?product_id=99&title_app=%3EBooks

The VRAG can be obtained from, http://www.mhcp.on.ca/Site_Published/internet/SiteContent.aspx?Body.QueryId.Id=2036&LeftNavigation.QueryId.Categories=130

There is more than one tool available for the same topic. How do I know when to use one over the other?

The HCR-20 should be used for individuals who have or who you think may become violent, are likely mentally ill or have a personality disorder. You can use this tool when you know who the target is or when the target is unknown.

The SARA and B-SAFER are used for domestic violence cases.

The SAM is used in cases of stalking or threats. If the suspected stalker is an intimate partner or an ex-intimate partner, the SARA/B-SAFER and the SAM can be used together.

The SVR-20 and the RSVP are for men 18 and older who have a known or suspected history of sexual violence. You should use the RSVP if you want to do a more in-depth or detailed threat assessment. The RSVP will also help you more when coming up with management strategies.

When should I use the B-SAFER instead of the SARA?

The B-SAFER is a shorter version of the SARA that was developed specifically for police and other justice agencies. If you have limited time the B-SAFER can be used. But, when you have the time you should use the SARA.

Should I use the HCR-20 or the SAVRY with a 14 year old?

You should use the SAVRY because it is meant for youth between the ages of 12 and 18 and the HCR-20 is meant for adults (i.e. over 18). However, you could use the HCR-20 on someone under 18 if you know that the youth has been living independently, like an adult.

Is the PCL-R or PCL:SV a threat assessment tool?

No, the PCL-R and PCL:SV (short-version of the PCL-R) are not threat assessment tools. They were designed to measure psychopathy which is a risk factor for violence. Psychopathy is an item in several actuarial and SPJ tools.

Index of Abbreviations

HCR-20 – The Historical, Clinical, Risk - 20
SARA – The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment
B-SAFER – The Brief Spousal Assault Form for the Evaluation of Risk
SAM – The Guidelines for Stalking Assessment and Management
SAVRY – The Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth
SVR-20 – The Sexual Violence Risk – 20
VRAG – Violence Risk Appraisal Guide
SORAG – Sexual Offender Risk Appraisal Guide
RSVP – The Risk for Sexual Violence Protocol
PCL-R – The Psychopathy Checklist Revised
PCL:SV – The Psychopathy Checklist Short Version

(FAQ Compiled by SFU Phd Students Jen Storey, Kim Reeves, Andrea Gibas)