Validating an extended scale on the HCR-20 V3.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the validity of an extended Scale on the HCR-20V3 in secure hospitals and Prisons in England.
IRAS ID
197423
Contact name
Marvin Iroegbu
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxleas Nhs Foundation trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 29 days
Research summary
The 'Health, Clinical, Risk 20' (HCR-20) is the most commonly used risk assessment tool for assessing violence in the UK. Effective risk assessments are vital for ensuring offenders are given the correct support and treatment necessary to reduce their risk of reoffending. Previous studies have largely investigated the ability of the HCR-20 to predict violence. However, few have investigated the HCR 20’s ability to identify changes in risk. A core aim of secure hospitals and prisons is to help re-integrate offenders back into society by reducing their risk. However, if the most commonly used risk assessment tool is unable to detect when an individual’s risk has changed, then suggested improvements are necessary to help meet this important need.
The present study will be completed from 12-24 months. The study will aim to test the validation of a new 7-point scale for the HCR-20 and assess whether it is better than the original, already validated 3-point scale at evaluating change in risk. The study will also test whether improvements on a HCR-20 score is linked to a reduction in violent behaviour.
To conduct the study, a researcher will visit 5 prisons and 5 secure units. In each site, the researcher will train the clinicians to complete the HCR-20 assessments and score them using the new 7-point scale. As part of routine clinical practice, the clinicians at the various sites will then complete the HCR-20 using both the original 3-point scale and the new, yet to be validated 7 point scale. The researcher will then visit the sites and document the HCR-20 scores, violent behaviour in the 6 months prior to the HCR-20 scoring and any evidence of a change in risk (granted leave, moved to a more/less secure unit).
After 12 months, the researcher will re-visit the sites and collect the HCR-20 scores, document violent behaviour and document any changes in risk. This data will then be analysed by the research team to determine whether extending the scale from 3 points to 7 points is better for detecting change in risk.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0464
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion