VRAG-R
Definition
Violence Risk Appraisal Guide-Revised (2015): 12-item fully actuarial instrument whose score places an individual in one of nine bins, each associated with an approximate 5-year and 12-year violent recidivism probability derived from Canadian forensic psychiatric samples.
- Items
- 12 fully actuarial items
- Published
- 2015 revision of the original VRAG
- Output
- Places score into one of nine risk bins
- Predicts
- Approximate 5-year and 12-year violent recidivism probability
- Derivation sample
- Canadian forensic psychiatric patients
Common questions
Why is VRAG-R described as fully actuarial?+
The score is calculated mechanically from fixed, weighted items such as age at index offense and criminal history, with no room for the assessor to adjust the final number using clinical judgment, unlike structured professional judgment tools such as HCR-20.
What is the main limitation of using VRAG-R across different populations?+
Its probability estimates were built on a Canadian forensic psychiatric sample, so applying the bin percentages directly to a different country, offense type, or demographic group risks miscalibration unless local validation data support the transfer.
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