A review of the BC Sheriff Services threat assessment process
Date
2018-12-13
Authors
Bell, Jackie G.
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Abstract
Threat and risk assessments conducted by the BC Sheriff Services Integrated Threat Assessment Unit (ITAU) inform protective measures to reduce risk of targeted violence towards employees and the public at provincial government worksites. This report evaluates the effectiveness of this program in preventing future acts of violence; using methods including a literature review, review of all issues referred to the ITAU in 2015 and court outcomes in the year following assessment, and interviews with ITAU employees as well as clients who receive and act upon threat assessment information.
The three main approaches to professional assessment were evaluated with a finding that structured professional judgement, which is used by the ITAU in performing assessments, was superior to the unstructured approach and comparable to actuarial methods. Investigative, assessment, and management processes were also consistent with those identified in the literature. Predictive validity and interrater reliability for structured professional judgement guides used by the ITAU in conducting assessments were also evaluated, with a finding that all were empirically validated for use upon intended populations in both respects; with the exception of use with adult females.
Rates of criminal offending in the year following initial referral for cases escalated for full behavioural threat assessment in 2015 were found to be higher than those addressed via alternate or lesser means, which suggests reliability of the initial triage process in correctly identifying cases presenting elevated risk. No significant relationship was demonstrated during statistical testing between the variables of ‘risk rating assigned by the ITAU’ and ‘criminal charges in the year following assessment’, though inconclusive results were attributed to sampling issues.
Findings from interviews point to different types of work performed in relation to the courts versus external clients. With regard to overall workload the unit also appears to have exceeded capacity. Assessment information from the ITAU is helpful to case managers and recommendations for risk mitigation are generally followed. Risk ratings were also demonstrated to influence allocation of resources, with higher risk ratings associated to an increased number of protective actions taken by case managers; though there was some evidence that a higher number of recommendations negatively correlated to decreased offending in the 2015 sample.
Despite inherent difficulties isolating precise impacts of a threat assessment program; it is clear that the ITAU is a highly qualified team engaging in widely recognized best practices. Assessment activities are also improving safety and security and reducing the risk of targeted violence through use of a reliable risk rating system, which in turn allows evidence based implementation of preventative measures. Case management also results in target hardening measures, interventions upon high risk subjects, improved emotional well-being for employees, and meeting of regulated requirements for BC employers to assess potential exposure to violence in the workplace.
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Keywords
threat assessment, violence risk assessment, structured professional judgement, courthouse security, program evaluation