Risk and revocation in community corrections: The role of gender

Abstract

Actuarial risk assessment instruments have become integral to the functioning of the correctional systems in North America, the United Kingdom, and many other parts of the world. While research on the classification of female offenders has been ongoing since the 1980s, there is still more work to be done. Adding to the growing body of literature, the present study analyses agency records from a Community Supervision Department located in a Southwestern state in the United States. Findings reveal the Wisconsin Risk/Needs Assessment instrument has predictive validity for both male and female probationers. Further, successful completion rates for males and females are found to be similar.