Square Roots and Algebra: Understanding Perceptions of Combined Risk/Needs Assessment Measures

The Home Office's emphasis on a new risk-based agenda for the Probation Service has been the hallmark of both legislation and a large number of policy documents. Yet very little is currently known about how probation officers view these changes. Here, Anthony Colombo and Mike Neary use their initial research findings to gain a clearer understanding of the practical concerns probation officers have about combined risk/needs measures, and assess the implications for future progress in the assessment and management of offender risk.