STATIC ACTUARIAL ASSESSMENT

Static-2002R and BARR-2002R certified training

Learn to score and interpret Static-2002R for sexual recidivism and BARR-2002R for general and violent recidivism using demographic information, official criminal history, offence details, and victim information.

This live, case-based workshop addresses who the instruments are for, what information is needed, how the 14 Static-2002R items are coded, and how results should be interpreted and communicated.

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What are Static-2002R and BARR-2002R?

Static-2002R is an actuarial instrument designed to estimate relative sexual-recidivism risk among adult men in its intended population. Its 14 items are organized into five domains: age, persistence of sexual offending, deviant sexual interests, relationship to victims, and general criminality. It can be scored from records without an interview. (SAARNA, Static/BARR-2002R)

BARR-2002R is a related but distinct actuarial instrument. It uses age and a subset of the Static-2002R information to assess general and violent recidivism among people with a history of sexual offending. No additional information is required once Static-2002R has been scored, but the BARR-2002R result answers a different outcome question. (Babchishin et al., 2016)

Both instruments use historical and demographic information that is not sensitive to change through intervention or management. They do not measure treatment progress, recent destabilization, or every factor relevant to an individualized assessment.

Why five domains do not mean five proven causes

The five-domain structure helps organize coding and communication. It should not be interpreted as showing that each domain is a distinct diagnosis, causal mechanism, treatment target, or independently calibrated prediction. Factor-analytic research has identified broader latent dimensions that do not simply reproduce the five-domain organization. (Brouillette-Alarie et al., 2016)

The practical implication is modest but important: use the total result and current evaluator guidance for the instrument’s validated purpose; use domain information cautiously within a broader formulation rather than assigning it more precision than the evidence supports.

How does Static-2002R differ from Static-99R?

Both are static actuarial instruments used to estimate relative sexual-recidivism risk among adult men in their intended populations. Static-2002R contains more items and an explicit domain structure; Static-99R is shorter. Comparative research has generally found similar overall predictive accuracy, although the instruments are not redundant and can classify some people differently. (Babchishin et al., 2012; Hanson et al., 2017)

There is no public rule that makes one instrument universally preferable. Selection should consider population fit, the referral question, available records, the need to assess sexual versus general or violent recidivism, local policy, cultural evidence, and the current official guidance.

What can the results support?

When appropriately selected and competently scored, Static-2002R can position a person relative to relevant comparison data for sexual recidivism. BARR-2002R can contribute corresponding information about general and violent recidivism. Current evaluator resources may describe results using standardized risk levels, percentile standing, relative risk, and group-based recidivism estimates over specified follow-up periods.

These metrics answer different questions. A relative-risk statement compares groups. A percentile describes the location of a score in a specified score distribution. An absolute estimate describes recorded or modelled outcomes for a group over a defined period. None determines what one person will do. (Hanson et al., 2017; Hanson et al., 2016)

Important limitations

  • The results are group-based and probabilistic, not certain individual forecasts.
  • Static-2002R and BARR-2002R do not establish guilt, diagnose a condition, explain causation, or decide sentencing, release, treatment, or supervision.
  • Absolute estimates depend on the outcome definition, follow-up period, reference sample, local context, and source version. (Hanson et al., 2016)
  • The five domains should not be treated as equally reliable stand-alone scales or as complete case formulations. (Brouillette-Alarie et al., 2016)
  • Reliable scoring depends on sufficiently detailed records, current manuals, training, and quality assurance.
  • Evidence for one population should not be generalized automatically to another.

Cultural applicability

A Canadian study of five high-risk/high-needs samples found that Static-2002R predicted sexual recidivism for the White study group but not for the Indigenous study group. The Static-2002R analyses included relatively few people and recidivism events, combined First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people, and were concentrated geographically; the authors cautioned that conclusions could change as evidence accumulates. (Lee et al., 2020)

This finding does not justify a universal conclusion that Static-2002R is invalid for every Indigenous person. It does require explicit caution: evaluators should examine current evidence, local policy, reference-group fit, potential consequences, and whether another instrument or additional method is more defensible.

Who is the workshop for?

This course is intended for professionals who score, interpret, review, or rely on Static-2002R and BARR-2002R, including psychologists, psychiatrists, probation and parole professionals, treatment providers, researchers, and related forensic practitioners. Students may attend to develop structured-assessment knowledge, but a course certificate does not itself authorize independent practice.

What you will practise

  • Determine when Static-2002R and BARR-2002R are appropriate and identify the information needed before scoring.
  • Construct a defensible chronology from demographic, criminal-history, offence, and victim information.
  • Apply the current coding rules across all 14 Static-2002R items.
  • Calculate and distinguish the Static-2002R and BARR-2002R results.
  • Interpret standardized risk levels, relative risk, percentile standing, and available absolute-risk information without treating them as interchangeable.
  • Work through ambiguous and unusual cases, document uncertainty, and identify when consultation or independent review is needed.

Training format

Before training

Complete the assigned pre-training videos and have the current scoring manual and participant materials available.

During training

Attend both live Zoom sessions. Participants work through examples and cases, compare coding decisions, discuss disagreement, and return to the official guidance. Most of the workshop is active case practice rather than lecture.

After training

Eligible attendees complete the separate certification exercise. Continued competence may also require manual study, supervised or quality-assured practice, consultation, and periodic checks for coding drift.

Certificate requirements

A completion certificate confirms full attendance and that the published certification standard was met. An attendance certificate confirms full attendance only.

The specific exercise, answers, scoring standard, and review process remain private. A course certificate does not replace professional scope, organizational authorization, or jurisdictional requirements.

What participants say

Feedback from Static-2002R workshop participants.

“The quiz was fun. I am glad we got to work through cases with our groups.”

“Very informative, not at all dry despite the potential dryness of the topic, and there was resource material to use after the training.”

“Despite it being online, I felt as if we were all in the same room. Very well done.”

Quotations are included only where the participant gave written consent to publication; identifying information is not displayed.

Frequently asked questions

Is Static-2002R simply a longer Static-99R?

No. The instruments overlap in purpose and content, but they use different item structures and can produce different classifications. Static-2002R requires its own training and current guidance.

Is BARR-2002R a sexual-recidivism instrument?

No. BARR-2002R is used for general and violent recidivism among people with a history of sexual offending. Static-2002R addresses sexual recidivism.

Does the five-domain structure provide a diagnosis or causal formulation?

No. It organizes historical information. Domain labels should not be treated as diagnoses, proven causes, or independently calibrated predictions.

Does either instrument measure change after treatment?

No. Their information is not sensitive to change through intervention or management. Current needs, strengths, treatment progress, and recent indicators require other evidence and, where appropriate, other structured methods.

Is an interview required?

Not to score these instruments. Reliable and sufficiently detailed records remain essential, and a broader assessment may require an interview.

Can Static-2002R be used with every adult who has a sexual-offence history?

No. Population and eligibility rules apply. Use the current official guidance for edge cases and seek qualified consultation when the fit is uncertain.

How should I choose between Static-99R and Static-2002R?

There is no universal public decision rule. Consider the referral question, supported population, available records, local policy, cultural evidence, and whether general or violent recidivism information is also needed.

Where can I find current official materials?

Use the SAARNA Static/BARR-2002R instrument page for current manuals, forms, evaluator resources, and research links. Confirm version dates before use.

Key references

Annotated bibliography

  • Babchishin, Hanson, and Helmus (2012): Compares closely related static instruments and shows why high correlation does not make them interchangeable. Useful when explaining tool selection and divergent classifications.
  • Brouillette-Alarie et al. (2016): Examines latent structure across Static-99R and Static-2002R. Useful for preventing the five administrative domains from being mistaken for five proven causal constructs.
  • Babchishin, Hanson, and Blais (2016): Provides the empirical basis for BARR-2002R as a more focused use of Static-2002R information for general and violent recidivism.
  • Hanson et al. (2017): Provides the evidence-based framework for standardized risk categories and distinguishes categories from other risk metrics.
  • Hanson et al. (2016): Demonstrates cross-sample variability in absolute sexual-recidivism rates. Essential when selecting and explaining reference data.
  • Lee, Hanson, and Blais (2020): Provides the most directly relevant Canadian evidence in this set concerning Indigenous and White people. Its limitations make it a caution source, not a blanket rule.