HCR-20 (Version 3)
HCR-20 Violence Risk Assessment Scheme
The Historical Clinical Risk Management-20, Version 3 (Douglas, Hart, Webster, & Belfrage, 2013), also known as HCR-20 V3, or simply V3, is a comprehensive set of professional guidelines for the assessment and management of violence risk. Following Versions 1 and 2 of the HCR-20, the HCR-20V3 embodies and exemplifies the Structured Professional Judgment (SPJ) model of violence risk assessment. Its most common applications are within correctional, forensic, and general or civil psychiatric settings, whether in the institution or in the community. It is applicable to adults aged 18 and above who may pose a risk for future violence.
HCR-20 V3 builds upon a solid foundation laid by Versions 1 and 2 of the HCR-20. Version 2 of the HCR-20 has been subjected to more than 200 empirical evaluations based on more than 150 independent data sets. It has been translated into 20 languages, and has been adopted or evaluated in 35 countries. Recent research indicates that it is the most commonly used violence risk assessment instrument in the world. Meta-analytic evidence has found that it performs as well or better than other approaches to risk assessment.
HCR-20 V3 contains extensive guidelines for the evaluation of not only the presence of 20 key violence risk factors, but also their relevance to the evaluee at hand. It also contains information to help evaluators construct meaningful formulations of violence risk, future risk scenarios, appropriate risk management plans, and informative communication of risk.
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Translation Information and Requests:
Please contact myself, or any of the HCR-20 authors, for information about the translation application procedure and process.
Ordering Information:
The V3 manual and worksheets can be ordered at the following pages:
Related Materials:
HCR-20 Violence Risk Management Companion Guide
The field of violence risk assessment has progressed in recent years. However, assessment alone is not enough to prevent further violence. What is needed is effective risk management and intervention strategies that take modifiable risk factors into account. This was the rationale for the HCR-20 Violence Risk Management Companion Guide 鈥� to recommend risk management and intervention strategies that stem from such modifiable risk factors.
The HCR-20 Violence Risk Management Companion Guide builds on the original HCR-20 Violence Risk Assessment Scheme by devoting a chapter to each of the Clinical and Risk Management Scale items from the original HCR-20. It also includes general overview chapters on risk assessment, risk management, and the bridge between the two.