Recidivism Among Violent Offenders: Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Psychological and Social Risk Factors
Abstract
Abstract While the literature on criminal recidivism has extensively documented the role of independent risk factors, little is known about how these risk factors may co-occur to produce a cumulative effect. Such information would enhance understanding and be valuable for informing policy and programming. The current study uses data from a large sample of released violent offenders ( N = 38,097) to explore how two distinct cumulative risk indices, comprised of psychological and social risk factors, work to influence common recidivism patterns. Results across two multivariate modeling strategies consistently reveal linkages between the psychological and social indices and recidivism risk. Implications for research and practice are considered.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Crime Patterns and Interventions
Psychopathy
Forensic Psychiatry
Sexual Offending
Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 28 January 2026
- Language
- EN