Practitioner review: The assessment and management of risk in adolescents

Much of the relevant literature has focused on the assessment of dangerousn ess in adults. Up-to-date thinking and research has now taken on the altern ative concept of risk and looks not at all-or-nothing long-term predictions , but at short-term frequent decisions about risk, which then assist in the management of the individual and their situation. For this reason it is es sential that those presenting evidence for other professionals or for Court should not attempt, or be persuaded, to make long-term predictions. Curren t research is now showing that some factors, which can be ascertained clini cally, are significantly associated with the risk of future violence.