The Role of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) in Violence Risk and Threat Assessment

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed a growing interest in risk assessment. Reliable and valid instruments, such as the Revised Hare Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R; Hare, 1991), form one essential component of this evaluation. They allow clinicians to anchor opinions in actuarially-based nomothetic data. In this article we provide the reader with a context for evaluating the role of the PCL-R in risk assessment. Specifically, we offer suggestions related to the use of PCL-R scores within a clinical/forensic context. Borrowed from essays on public health policy, we apply the concept of harm reduction to risk assessment and a select case example.

Key Words:

• Psychopathy
• violence risk
• PCL-R