The Development of the VP-SAFvR: An Actuarial Instrument for Police Triage of Australian Family Violence Reports. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McEwan, Troy E.; Shea, Daniel E.; Ogloff, James R. P.
• Is Part Of: Criminal justice and behavior. Volume 46:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 590
• Page End: 607
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: risk assessment -- family violence -- intimate partner violence -- actuarial risk assessment -- policing; Correctional psychology -- Periodicals; 364.6
• DOI: 10.1177/0093854818806031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0093-8548

Abstract

This study describes the rationale, development, and validation of the Victoria Police Screening Assessment for Family Violence Risk (VP-SAFvR). The actuarial instrument was developed on a sample of 24, 446 Australian police reports from 2013-2014. Information from each report and criminal histories of those involved were collected with 12-month follow-up, and binary logistic regression used to develop an improper predictive model. The selected VP-SAFvR cut-off score correctly identified almost three quarters of cases with further reports, while half of those without were accurately excluded. It was effective for frontline police triage decision-making, with few screened-out cases reporting further family violence, while those screened-in required additional risk assessment. Predictive validity was adequate and consistent across family relationships and demographic groups, although it was less effective in predicting future family violence reports involving same-sex couples or child perpetrators. Further evaluation in a field trial is necessary to determine the validity of the VP-SAFvR in practice.