What is the term for the process of evaluating an individual to determine the risk of reoffending?

The process of evaluating an individual to determine the risk of reoffending is referred to as risk assessment. This term encompasses the systematic evaluation of factors that may indicate the likelihood of a person committing further offenses. Tools and methodologies used in risk assessments often consider historical behavior, psychological factors, social circumstances, and environmental influences.

Risk assessments are crucial in various fields, including criminal justice and mental health, where understanding an individual’s potential for future violence or criminal behavior is necessary for making informed decisions about interventions, treatment, and supervision levels. This process helps in creating strategies tailored to manage or mitigate the identified risks associated with the individual.

The other terms, while related to assessing threats or behavior, do not specifically focus on the likelihood of reoffending. Threat assessment tends to concentrate on evaluating potential imminent threats to safety rather than the risk of future offenses. Behavioral evaluation focuses on understanding behavior patterns without necessarily forecasting recidivism. Criminal profiling is often used to create a psychological or behavioral profile of offenders based on their actions but does not assess their risk of reoffending in a systematic manner.