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Risk formulation in forensic practice: a review of the evidence

Emma Tarpey (Psychology Department, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK and Psychology Department, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK)
Zoe Stephenson (Department of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK)
Richard Barker (Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK)

The Journal of Forensic Practice

ISSN: 2050-8794

Article publication date: 2 June 2023

Issue publication date: 11 July 2023

143

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the evidence base for the use of risk formulation in forensic practice settings.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic literature review principles were adopted to identify literature exploring risk formulation in forensic practice settings in relation to offending behaviour.

Findings

Data were analysed using a narrative synthesis approach, and commonalities were observed across some of the studies in terms of definitions, outcomes, and implementation, of risk formulation; however, the findings of the review did not provide a definitive account of risk formulation practice in forensic settings. This is due to the narrow scope of the included studies, the small yet diverse samples, the heterogeneity in research aims and the methodological weaknesses apparent within the included studies.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed to understand the application and outcomes of risk formulation in forensic practice settings.

Practical implications

Practitioners should be clear about how they are defining, implementing and assessing the outcomes of risk formulation, alongside being mindful of the evidence base when utilising forensic risk formulation in practice.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to focus solely on the evidence base for forensic risk formulation in practice.

Keywords

Citation

Tarpey, E., Stephenson, Z. and Barker, R. (2023), "Risk formulation in forensic practice: a review of the evidence", The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp. 243-262. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-12-2022-0064

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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