Q.1 What is the primary goal of risk assessment in forensic psychology?
To punish offenders
To evaluate the likelihood of future harmful behavior
To diagnose mental illnesses
To determine guilt in a court case
Explanation - Risk assessment aims to predict the probability that an individual may engage in harmful behavior, helping in management and prevention strategies.
Correct answer is: To evaluate the likelihood of future harmful behavior
Q.2 Which of the following is a structured professional judgment tool used in risk assessment?
HCR-20
MMPI
Beck Depression Inventory
WAIS-IV
Explanation - The HCR-20 is a widely used structured professional judgment tool for assessing violence risk.
Correct answer is: HCR-20
Q.3 Dynamic risk factors are characterized by which of the following?
They are permanent and unchangeable
They can change over time and may be targeted in interventions
They are only related to legal history
They refer to biological factors only
Explanation - Dynamic risk factors are modifiable characteristics (e.g., substance abuse, attitudes) that can influence an individual's risk and can be addressed in treatment.
Correct answer is: They can change over time and may be targeted in interventions
Q.4 Which of the following is an example of a static risk factor?
Current substance abuse
History of violent offenses
Attitudes towards authority
Level of impulsivity
Explanation - Static risk factors are historical and unchangeable (e.g., past criminal behavior, age at first offense) and help in baseline risk evaluation.
Correct answer is: History of violent offenses
Q.5 What does the acronym 'VRAG' stand for in forensic risk assessment?
Violence Risk Appraisal Guide
Victim Risk Assessment Group
Violent Reoffender Analysis Guide
Variable Risk Adjustment Graph
Explanation - VRAG is an actuarial tool used to estimate the likelihood of violent recidivism in offenders.
Correct answer is: Violence Risk Appraisal Guide
Q.6 Which of the following is most important when managing high-risk offenders?
Increasing punishment severity
Continuous monitoring and intervention
Providing unrestricted freedom
Focusing solely on medication
Explanation - Effective risk management involves ongoing supervision, structured interventions, and addressing modifiable risk factors to reduce the likelihood of harm.
Correct answer is: Continuous monitoring and intervention
Q.7 What type of risk assessment combines both actuarial data and professional judgment?
Unstructured clinical assessment
Structured professional judgment
Purely actuarial assessment
Self-report assessment
Explanation - Structured professional judgment (SPJ) integrates empirical data (actuarial) with the clinician's expertise to provide a comprehensive risk evaluation.
Correct answer is: Structured professional judgment
Q.8 Which of the following is considered a protective factor in risk management?
Strong social support
History of aggression
Substance abuse
Impulsivity
Explanation - Protective factors reduce the likelihood of harmful behavior and buffer against risk; social support is one key example.
Correct answer is: Strong social support
Q.9 The primary difference between actuarial and SPJ risk assessments is:
Actuarial assessments are purely based on statistics, SPJ incorporates professional judgment
SPJ assessments use only biological data
Actuarial assessments are subjective
SPJ ignores past criminal history
Explanation - Actuarial tools rely on statistical probabilities derived from large samples, while SPJ tools allow professional discretion to adjust risk estimates.
Correct answer is: Actuarial assessments are purely based on statistics, SPJ incorporates professional judgment
Q.10 What is a common limitation of unstructured clinical risk assessments?
High reliability and predictive accuracy
Subjectivity and potential bias
Inclusion of historical data
Integration with treatment planning
Explanation - Unstructured assessments depend heavily on clinician intuition, which may lead to inconsistent and biased evaluations.
Correct answer is: Subjectivity and potential bias
Q.11 Which of the following best describes risk management?
A method to punish offenders
A process to reduce the probability of future harmful behavior
An approach to diagnose mental disorders
A way to increase criminal penalties
Explanation - Risk management focuses on interventions and supervision to minimize the likelihood of harm, rather than punishment.
Correct answer is: A process to reduce the probability of future harmful behavior
Q.12 Which professional is most likely to conduct a forensic risk assessment?
Clinical psychologist specializing in assessment
Social worker without training in forensic issues
School teacher
Police officer with no clinical training
Explanation - Forensic risk assessments require specialized training in psychology, assessment tools, and legal knowledge.
Correct answer is: Clinical psychologist specializing in assessment
Q.13 What does the term 'recidivism' refer to in risk assessment?
The occurrence of mental illness
Reoffending or relapse into criminal behavior
Completion of a rehabilitation program
Participation in community service
Explanation - Recidivism is the tendency of a convicted individual to reoffend, which is a key outcome measured in risk assessment.
Correct answer is: Reoffending or relapse into criminal behavior
Q.14 Which factor is considered both dynamic and modifiable in risk assessment?
Past convictions
Current substance use
Age at first offense
Gender
Explanation - Current substance abuse is a dynamic risk factor that can change over time and be targeted in interventions.
Correct answer is: Current substance use
Q.15 Which of the following tools is actuarial in nature for sexual offender risk assessment?
Static-99
HCR-20
PCL-R
MMPI-2
Explanation - Static-99 is a widely used actuarial tool specifically designed to estimate sexual offense recidivism.
Correct answer is: Static-99
Q.16 Which is a primary ethical consideration in forensic risk assessment?
Ensuring assessments are objective and evidence-based
Maximizing punishment
Minimizing paperwork
Ignoring historical data
Explanation - Ethical practice requires that risk assessments be unbiased, supported by research, and clinically justified.
Correct answer is: Ensuring assessments are objective and evidence-based
Q.17 Which of the following is a limitation of purely actuarial risk tools?
They ignore individual circumstances
They are too flexible
They do not use statistical data
They are subjective
Explanation - Actuarial tools rely on group-based probabilities and may not account for unique individual factors affecting risk.
Correct answer is: They ignore individual circumstances
Q.18 Which type of offender is typically assessed using the Sexual Violence Risk-20 (SVR-20)?
Sexual offenders
Violent non-sexual offenders
Juvenile offenders only
Property offenders
Explanation - The SVR-20 is a structured professional judgment tool for evaluating the risk of sexual reoffending.
Correct answer is: Sexual offenders
Q.19 Which of the following is a goal of community-based risk management?
Reducing harm to society while supporting offender rehabilitation
Increasing incarceration rates
Avoiding monitoring
Ignoring protective factors
Explanation - Community-based management balances public safety with treatment and reintegration of offenders.
Correct answer is: Reducing harm to society while supporting offender rehabilitation
Q.20 In risk assessment, what does the term 'base rate' refer to?
The probability of reoffending in a specific population
The cost of intervention programs
The severity of punishment
The number of protective factors present
Explanation - Base rate is the statistical likelihood of a particular outcome (e.g., recidivism) in a given population, used in actuarial assessments.
Correct answer is: The probability of reoffending in a specific population
Q.21 Which of the following is considered a limitation of self-report measures in risk assessment?
Potential for deception or bias
They are objective
They provide statistical probabilities
They replace structured assessments
Explanation - Self-reports rely on individuals’ honesty and insight, making them susceptible to underreporting or exaggeration of risk-related behaviors.
Correct answer is: Potential for deception or bias
Q.22 Which risk factor is most predictive of violent reoffending?
Past history of violence
Gender
Marital status
Educational level
Explanation - Historical violent behavior is one of the strongest predictors of future violence, making it a key factor in risk assessment.
Correct answer is: Past history of violence
Q.23 Which of the following is a principle of effective risk management?
Target interventions at dynamic risk factors
Ignore protective factors
Focus only on punishment
Avoid reassessment
Explanation - Effective management involves addressing modifiable factors to reduce future risk, while monitoring progress over time.
Correct answer is: Target interventions at dynamic risk factors
Q.24 Which population is often the focus of forensic risk assessment?
Offenders in criminal justice settings
School-aged children only
Corporate employees
General population with no criminal history
Explanation - Risk assessment is primarily applied to individuals involved in the criminal justice system to prevent future offending.
Correct answer is: Offenders in criminal justice settings