Despite extensive research examining risk assessment in men, there is still relatively little research investigating the accuracy of current methods of violence risk assessment when applied to women. This manuscript reviews the published literature on violence risk assessment in women, summarizing methodological issues that complicate the evaluation of risk assessment measures and accuracy of decisions emanating from their use. A wide range of studies are reviewed that use different modes of violence risk assessment including unstructured clinical evaluations, structured professional judgment (SPJ) techniques, and actuarial methods. Studies utilized a range of female populations (i.e., offenders, civil psychiatric patients, forensic psychiatric patients). Results of this analysis suggest that although structured methods are more accurate at predicting future risk than unstructured methods, the research supporting the use of current risk assessment measures on women remains equivocal.
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