Beyond prediction: Advancing risk assessment and addressing the evidence deficit in the statutory child maltreatment context

Key Points

• The study aims to enhance the understanding of risk assessment tools used in child maltreatment contexts and their predictive validity.
• Evaluated various performance indices for risk assessment tools.
• Assessed the validity of Structured Professional Judgment (SPJ) tools in statutory contexts.
• Focused on calibration and outcome choice in predictive assessments.
• Highlighted the need for cautious claims regarding predictive capabilities.
• Emphasized explicit attention to base rates in assessing tool effectiveness.
• Found that thorough evaluation can enhance the credibility of risk assessment in child maltreatment.