Protective factors in forensic risk assessment: a survey of current practices and professionals' perceptions

There has been growing attention in the forensic psychology literature to the potential benefits of formally including more positively-oriented attributes like protective factors in the risk assessment process. However, little is known about how risk assessors integrate protective factors into their assessment practices and how they perceive the hypothesized utility of these factors. This study surveyed 75 risk assessors to determine their understanding of protective factors, risk assessment practices, and perceptions regarding the value of assessing protective factors. Risk assessors' definitions of protective factors demonstrated notable variability, with two main conceptualizations emerging from their responses. Despite a lack of a unified definition, assessors generally had positive beliefs about the value of assessing protective factors, particularly in enhancing treatment planning and the risk management process. Addressing the conceptual uncertainty surrounding protective factors will be critical to the continued expansion of their inclusion within risk assessment practices.