Risk Assessment Interviews: Exploring the Perspectives of Psychologists and Indeterminate Sentenced Prisoners in the United Kingdom

This study explores the forensic risk assessment interview from the perspectives of qualified prison-based psychologists and indeterminate sentenced prisoners in the United Kingdom. It focuses on the psychologist–prisoner relationship in the interview context. Twenty-one in-depth individual intervie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology 2018-08, Vol.62 (10), p.3201-3224
Main Authors: Shingler, Jo, Sonnenberg, Stefanie J., Needs, Adrian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Classification
Conversation
Criminal sentences
Evaluation
Female
Forensic Psychology
Grounded Theory
Humans
Interview, Psychological
Interviews
Male
Meaning
Middle Aged
Prisoners
Prisoners - psychology
Psychologists
Risk Assessment
Transparency
United Kingdom
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Summary:This study explores the forensic risk assessment interview from the perspectives of qualified prison-based psychologists and indeterminate sentenced prisoners in the United Kingdom. It focuses on the psychologist–prisoner relationship in the interview context. Twenty-one in-depth individual interviews were conducted with psychologists and prisoners and analysed using Grounded Theory methods. The analysis identified the following categories reflecting participants’ descriptions of risk assessment interviews: “Emphasising Clarity and Transparency,” “Collaborative Engagement,” “Making a Respectful, Boundaried yet Human Connection,” “Respecting Individuality,” and “Having a Purposeful Conversation.” Analysis demonstrated that these categories of meaning reflected the broader notion of risk assessment interviewing as “A Difficult Balancing Act.” The views of prisoners and psychologists about the risk assessment interview were remarkably similar and provide some direction and guidance for practitioners navigating this challenging but essential aspect of forensic psychological work.
ISSN:0306-624X
1552-6933
DOI:10.1177/0306624X17739211