Assessing the individual risk of violence generally has two purposes. The first objective is to assess the individual’s likelihood of committing future violence. The second objective is to identify the needs and motivations of an individual in order to develop suitable interventions for reducing the risk of violent action. Risk assessment of violent extremism requires consideration of the type, seriousness, nature of violence and the threat to public safety represented by the individual. The task of each individual focused risk assessment is to determine the nature and the degree of the risk that a specified person will pose. The ultimate purpose of risk assessment is to manage or reduce an individual’s risk. The VERA-2R therefore contains both risk-promoting and risk-mitigating indicators.
The VERA-2R is applicable to evaluate all ideological types of violent extremism and terrorism, it is applicable to lone actors and members of extremist groups, and to all genders and age-groups. The VERA-2R may be used in prejudicial, judicial and post-judicial settings. See section Use for specifics and global examples of the usage of the VERA-2R.
The VERA-2R supports the professional to structure and weigh the relevant information, and clarifies what needs to be investigated and obtained from other sources. Training programmes are essential for users and peer consulting with consensus methods are recommended when feasible.
A VERA-2R assessment should be part of a risk report. This risk report supports risk management strategies, rehabilitation goals and decisions related to detention placement and differentiation.