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Risk assessment is an integral part of corrections. Risk assessment allows practitioners to not only predict the likelihood of success for an offender placed in the community but also to identify areas which will likely reduce risk if treated. Many scholars have argued that such areas also known as criminogenic needs differ for men and women (Bloom, Owen & Covington, 2003). In responding to these arguments scholars have created a risk assessment designed specifically for female offenders (The Women’s Risk/Needs Assessment or WRNA) (Van Voorhis, Salisbury, Wright, & Bauman, 2008). This dissertation builds on existing gender-responsive studies by examining the predictive validity of gender-neutral and gender-responsive risk/needs variables as well as gender-responsive strengths in a sample of male and female offenders in community correctional facilities using the WRNA. Results indicate that there are differences in the prevalence, co-occurrence, and predictive validity of gender-neutral and gender-responsive risk/needs and gender-responsive strengths for men and women. This study replicates the results of prior studies regarding gender-neutral risk assessment for male offenders. Additionally, this research demonstrates the importance of gender-responsive issues in the risk prediction of female offenders. |
