I am one of the coordinators for the Psychology Law Evidence Database (PLED), a comprehensive, continuously updated, freely available database of selected scientific papers about psychology and law for policy makers, stakeholders, the general public, practitioners, and researchers.

One recently published study featured on the PLED, “Forensic risk assessment and cultural diversity: Contemporary challenges and future directions” highlights the importance of cultural diversity in violence risk assessments.

Abstract:

A Canadian Federal court recently impugned the administering of 5 risk assessment instruments with Canadian Aboriginal prisoners. The ramifications of the ruling for the field are notable given the universal employment of risk instruments with Indigenous offenders and patients. Effectively, forensic clinicians and researchers can no longer overlook the role of culture in risk assessment–a robust academic dialogue on this subject matter is consequently warranted. This article explores how culture can shape the entire risk assessment process; from instrument construction and validation, to risk marker sensitivity, symptom articulation, and client-clinician interaction. Future directions for cross-cultural assessment are discussed

Shepherd, S. M., & Lewis-Fernandez, R. (2016). Forensic risk assessment and cultural diversity: Contemporary challenges and future directions. Psychology, Public Policy, And Law, 22(4), 427-438. doi:10.1037/law0000102

For information on the article and other psychology law evidence on various topics see the Psychology Law Evidence Database.