Risk Management: Working On Short-Term And Long-Term Risk Reduction

Risk management is a core task of forensic social professionals. In this chapter, risk management is defined as all systematic and planned actions taken to minimize or neutralize recidivism risk. These actions may be aimed at changing behaviour and improving living conditions, which often takes time, and interventions aimed at keeping risks manageable in short term. Several steps for a good risk management approach are described in detail and illustrated with a case example. This chapter builds on Chapters 8 (the planning cycle) and 9 (risk assessment), and describes concrete starting points for decision-making on interventions that are aimed at managing risks and promoting change in order to support desistance. Among other things, the chapter discusses goal formulation, recovery, restrictions of freedoms, victim safety, different ways for monitoring and responding to non-compliance..