Violence Risk Assessment in Schools: Exploring the Predictive Validity of the Structured Professional Judgment Model

As schools respond to the need for effective school safety plans, implementation of these programs is challenged by difficulties in identifying the students at risk for violence. Integration of current violence risk assessment methodologies as a means for identifying and guiding intervention efforts introduces a logical next step toward implementation of school based plans. The prerequisite for this integration is validating these assessment methodologies for use within educational settings. The present work takes this next step. The Structured Professional Judgment model was selected as a promising evidence based practice for identifying students at risk for violence as well as guiding treatment efforts to assist them. In a sample of 87 adolescent students, the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth was administered in accordance with the Structured Professional Judgment model on which it was developed. The findings from the present study offer important insights into the predictive validity of this model and the use of this instrument in educational settings. This book is a valuable resource for any educator, administrator, or mental health professional working with potentially violent youth in educational settings.