Info in English

About SAVRY

SAVRY is based on the structured professional judgement model of risk assessment and a review of the scientific literature on adolescent development and youth violence.

SAVRY is a copyrighted decision support tool and the original version in English is available from Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR)(See link). The Swedish version is exempt from this principle. For more information in English please visit this page.

Background

The SAVRY was developed by Randy Borum, Patrick Bartel, and Adelle Forth to help in the assessment and management of risk for violence and other serious antisocial behaviour in boys and girls age 12-18 years. SAVRY is based on the structured professional judgement model of risk assessment and a review of the scientific literature on adolescent development and youth violence. SAVRY contains 24 risk and 6 protective factors. SAVRY risk items are grouped into three domains: historical, social/contextual and individual. All risk factors are scored low, medium/moderate or high. The protective factors are scored absent or present. The practioner/clinician arrive at a final risk summary: lowmoderate or high risk of serious antisocial behaviour within a specified timeframe. The final risk rating takes the number of risk/needs factors into account, the specific constellation and possible case-specific factors not included among the 24 + 6 SAVRY items.

The aim of SAVRY is to guide the clinician to a better informed assessment of the level of risk that could aid interventions, including support, treatment and management. Assessing violence risk with young people is less problematic ethically when one also tries to reduce the assessed risk by targeted case-specific interventions.

SAVRY risk factors

HISTORICAL RISK FACTORS

1. History of Violence
2. History of Non-Violent Offending
3. Early Initiation of Violence
4. Past Supervision/Intervention Failures
5. History of Self-Harm or Suicide Attempts
6. Exposure to Violence at Home
7. Childhood History of Maltreatment
8. Parental/Caregiver Criminality
9. Early Caregiver Disruption
10. Poor School Achievement

SOCIAL/CONTEXTUAL RISK FACTORS

11. Peer Delinquency
12. Peer Rejection
13. Stress and Poor Coping
14. Poor Parental Management
15. Lack of Personal/Social Support
16. Community Disorganization

INDIVIDUAL RISK FACTORS

17. Negative Attitudes
18. Risk Taking/Impulsivity
19. Substance Use Difficulties
20. Anger Management Problems
21. Low Empathy/Remorse
22. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Difficulties
23. Poor Compliance
24. Low Interest/Commitment to School

PROTECTIVE FACTORS

P1. Prosocial Involvement
P2. Strong Social Support
P3. Strong Attachments and Bonds
P4. Positive Attitude Towards Intervention and Authority
P5. Strong Commitment to School
P6. Resilient Personality Traits