Violence risk assessment in mental health practice: Part 1.

In the last 20 years, risk assessment has expanded to mean much more than a simple determination of how dangerous an individual is. In 2009, the concept extends well beyond establishing level of risk. Risk formulations now encapsulate the assessment process more generally, and provide the basis for the identification of treatment needs and the development of supervision and risk reduction plans. Recent legislation in the UK, for example, the Sex Offenders Act (1997), the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) and the Mental Health Act (2007) all emphasize the importance of effective community management of violence risk. Reviewing the recent growth in multi-agency approaches to meet this challenge, the authors consider how health, social care and criminal justice agencies can share information and collaborate effectively. This paper offers some practical guidance on improving techniques designed to minimize forensic risk.