ABSTRACT
The impact of behavioral decision theory on forensic psychiatry and criminal justice has been felt principally through studies of juror decision making, behavioral economics, and legal reasoning (for example, see Arkes & Mellers, 2002; Ellsworth, 2004; Jolls, Sunstein, & Thaler, 1998; Simon, 1998). However, its greatest potential impact may lie in the practice of assessing risk of violence. (In context and in this chapter, the practice is referred to as risk assessment.) Violence risk assessment is becoming common practice among jurisdictions in North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe, especially for youth who have come to the attention of the juvenile justice system. Risk assessments enable custodial, clinical, and judicial decision makers to achieve the objective of protecting society while placing individuals who have committed criminal or so-called status offenses into appropriate treatment or rehabilitation facilities.
