The decision-making and stalking risk study

The stalking literature to date has not focused on assessing and managing the risk posed by stalkers. This study explored the validity of the Structured Professional Judgement (SPJ) model of risk assessment in ex-intimate partner stalking cases and whether victim vulnerability factors (VVFs) add to the validity of the SPJ model. Criminal justice and mental health professionals (N = 108) completed an on-line file-based stalking risk assessment. Participants we re randomly assigned a case history and to either the victim vulnerability condition or the non-victim vulnerability condition. Results provided evidence of components of the SPJ model (vis-à-vis risk management strategies). In addition, the results suggested participants found VVFs useful in the risk assessment process. However, the victim information did not influence the number of risk factors identified nor the intensity or quality of the total risk management strategies. Possible explanations for these findings and the implications for risk assessment are discussed.