The purpose of this website is to help evaluators (screeners and assessors) locate "Violence - Lethality" tests that will best meet their needs. For conceptual clarity, violence refers to the expression of anger, rage and hostility through physical force directed against persons or property. Violence is extreme anger aggression in their most extreme and unacceptable Forms. And this is why each of the following recommended tests contain a Violence Scale.

For comparison, Lethality refers to the likelihood that a person will commit homicide or suicide. Lethality has been referred to as focused violence at its extreme. Thus all of the following recommended tests contain a Violence Scale. Extreme Violence Scale scores (in the severe 90th percentile and higher range) identify very dangerous and potentially lethal individuals. And co determinate scale scores such as substance abuse (alcohol and illicit drugs), antisocial attitudes, and a person’s inability to handle stress can exacerbate Violence Scale scores along with one's lethality potential. In other words, when assessing lethality, other elevated scale scores (in the elevated 70th percentile and higher) can influence, codetermine or exacerbate lethality potential.

The term "assessment" is synonymous with evaluation, screening or testing. It is important to know that each of the following tests has a built-in Truthfulness Scale to establish the truthfulness of the defendant/offender/client while they were being tested. It would be naive to assume that people being tested in court, probation, or incarcerated settings are truthful when being tested. Many evaluators consider Truthfulness Scales essential to accurate assessment.

In all of the following tests each scale measures the severity of problems in that scales area of inquiry. To be helpful evaluators must establish problem severity to be able to match appropriate levels of intervention and treatment intensity. To be effective evaluator's must match problem severity with intervention or treatment recommendations.

The above websites reference specific "violence-lethality" tests. Additional information can be provided upon request by contacting Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. P.O. Box 44828, Phoenix, Arizona 85064-4828, Telephone: (602) 234 - 3506, Fax (602) 266 - 8227, E-mail address: skarca@riskandneeds.com. Risk & Needs website: www.riskandneeds.com