ACUTE-2007: Short-Term Dynamic Monitoring

Rapidly changing situational factors within structured supervision

ACUTE-2007 supports repeated attention to short-term changes in the supervision contexts for which it was developed. It informs trained professional judgement; it does not guarantee prediction.

The instrument

What ACUTE-2007 contributes

ACUTE-2007 is a seven-item short-term dynamic measure for rapidly changing situational factors. It is intended for repeated monitoring, particularly in community-supervision contexts, where relevant circumstances may shift over days or weeks.

Repeated use can organize attention to change rather than treat a single observation as the whole case. The measure is a companion to STABLE-2007’s stable dynamic factors and to a suitable static measure that supplies longer-term historical baseline information.

Professional use remains governed by current guidance, training, policy, available information, and the decision context.

Andrew Brankley presenting research in a lecture setting

Purpose and fit

Short-term information needs a wider frame

ACUTE-2007 focuses on rapidly changing short-term factors; STABLE-2007 focuses on patterns that can change over intermediate and longer periods; static tools organize historical information. Together, these sources can contribute different kinds of structured information to a broader assessment.

What repeated monitoring can support

In the appropriate setting, repeat assessments can make changes in relevant situational factors more visible and support documented supervision attention. They should be interpreted alongside a person’s broader history, stable dynamic factors, current information, and professional responsibilities.

What the measure cannot provide

ACUTE-2007 does not provide an absolute probability, replace comprehensive assessment, or guarantee prediction. A score cannot settle what a particular person will do, and it cannot replace local policy, current coding guidance, training, or contextual judgement.

Current resources

Start with official guidance

Consult SAARNA’s ACUTE-2007 overview and current resource list and Public Safety Canada’s Dynamic Supervision Project overview. Official resources and current manuals are the appropriate route for coding and use guidance.

The Sex and Violence Evaluation Lab examines psychological measurement, field validity, and how structured risk information is interpreted. Evidence can inform practice, but it does not replace professional judgement.

Assessment-tools series

See how the four tools fit together

Static-99R

Long-term static baseline.

Current overview

Static-2002R

Long-term static baseline.

Read the overview

STABLE-2007

Stable dynamic risk and need factors.

Read the overview

ACUTE-2007

Rapidly changing short-term factors.

Current overview

Continue your professional learning

For an enduring combined learning route, visit STABLE-2007/ACUTE-2007 professional learning. The page describes a learning route; it does not indicate whether a particular offering is available.

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