Professionals working in penitentiaries, law enforcement, national security agencies and probation settings are increasingly required to assess and monitor ideologically motivated individuals. The VERA was the first risk assessment tool specifically developed for violent extremism. The tool can only be used by professionals that have received certified training in the VERA and its’ subsequent versions VERA2 and VERA-2R. These may be forensic psychologists and psychiatrists, other specialists in the criminal justice system, forensic social workers, analysts at national security agencies or intelligence services and professionals in police forces or prison institutions. In addition to the criteria of having been trained, relevant user criteria need to be taken into account.
The VERA-2R can be used in combination with other analytical approaches. The maximum amount of case specific information should be consulted for the background information. This background knowledge needs to be included in the qualitative section of the indicators. An elaborate qualitative description of the available case information is essential in order to provide a comprehensive VERA-2R assessment. This qualitative section supports the evaluation of all indicators and leads to a well substantiated risk assessment and management plan. The VERA-2R evidence based risk indicators and the systematic structured format into which these indicators are placed, serve to assist analysts to determine an overall risk assessment and to be able to identify the most salient indicators critical to the assessed risk.
If no information is available for an indicator then a rating cannot be provided for that indicator. This does not invalidate the assessment. The indicator rating should be left empty and clarification should be provided in the space for the evidence on the response form. The knowledge that specific information is lacking identifies the ‘known unknown’ and guides the assessor to locating the missing information. Other agencies or bodies may possess such information. Attempts must be made to obtain this documentation.
The VERA-2R is applicable to all types of violent extremism including mixed ideologies, to lone actors and members of extremist groups and to all age groups and genders.