What is it about?
We compared risk assessments by police in routine field work with researchers coding the ODARA from files. Correlations between police and researchers were fair-to-good agreement and the scores were similar. However, both groups scored cases higher than the published data that are used to interpret risk scores. Thus, risk may be overestimated in many cases and more research is needed to provide up to date normative data for interpretation.
Featured Image
Photo by ev on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This study examined how the ODARA was scored by police in routine cases. Police officers’ scores generally agreed with those of researchers but were higher than expected based on existing norms. Consequently, the data used to interpret ODARA scores may overestimate the risk of intimate partner violence recidivism, and new ODARA norms may be needed.
Perspectives
This study is a first step in developing standard risk levels for intimate partner violence, which is needed in order have a common language for cross-sector risk communication and risk management. Look out for more publications from the CELIA IPV project.
Dr N Zoe Hilton
University of Toronto
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Police and researcher use of the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk
Assessment (ODARA): Interrater agreement and examination of published
norms., Journal of Threat Assessment and Management, October 2024, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/tam0000239.
You can read the full text:
Resources
CELIA IPV Project
The CELIA IPV Project is a police/researcher partnership for evidence-based approaches for assessing risk of IPV and coercive control. See our research, webinars, and other resources at this website.
Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Research Lab
Check out more research from our group on domestic violence risk assessment.
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
