Violence risk assessment is a core responsibility of forensic psychologists working in correctional facilities, forensic settings, and civil commitment programs. Tools such as the HCR-20 V3, SARA, and START are routinely used to structure evaluations that inform legal decisions, institutional management, and public safety planning. While initial training in these instruments is necessary, it is not sufficient.
As forensic psychologists, we are increasingly expected to demonstrate not only familiarity with violence risk assessment tools, but sustained proficiency in their application. Courts, oversight bodies, and professional regulators are paying closer attention to how evaluators maintain competence over time. At the same time, empirical research highlights competency drift, in which skill degradation occurs when structured tools are not applied regularly, systematically, or in alignment with current evidence.
Staying proficient in violence risk assessment is, therefore, not simply a matter of professional development. As forensic psychologists, we must recognize it as a legal, ethical, and scientific imperative.