Risk of Harm - Guidance and Training Resources

Activity 2-12

Developing Socratic Questions

This activity returns to the offence discussed in the Case Study in Activity 2-8, and Activity 2-10

Case Study (Part 3)

The offender normalises their drinking and sees it as an excuse for the assault making them less culpable. He says that the victim has exaggerated what happened in order to get more compensation. He implies that the victim (who was Asian) is typical of Asian people who are always trying to ‘get something for nothing’.

Recap on previous activities and then in the space provided in the boxes in page two Refine existing questions, or write new ones, that are Socratic and that in particular will get further information about how the offender thinks about the role of alcohol and about the victim and whether he is able to begin to think differently.

Next to each one think about possible responses and at least one follow up question.

Recap

Case Study (Part 1)

You are assessing a young man for offences of violence. He started aggressive and anti-social behaviour at an early age and has significant previous similar convictions as well as patterns of aggressive behaviour inside and outside the home.

The current offence involves the abuse of alcohol, again a recurring pattern, and he has beliefs and attitudes supportive of violent behaviour. All of the above could be found in a general list of risk factors for violent behaviour.

What you also know about this particular individual are some details about the particular triggers for violence and where and when his offending most often occurs, which allows you to refine that general risk assessment and make more specific judgments about where and when his risk might be greatest and to whom. You know for example that he has particular racist beliefs supported by peers and family and that many although not all of his offences have been committed with peers and have had victims from other racial and cultural groups.

Case Study (Part 2)

This activity adds some detail to the offence discussed in Activity 2-8.

  • The interviewer uses open questions to get a detailed account from the offender of what happened on the day in question; when they started drinking, how much and in what circumstances.
  • Because many offenders will play down the extent of their drinking, the assessor doesn't accept the first statement about having 'just a few jars'. Instead, the assessor asks questions about how many jars, what kinds of drinks, over what time period, and how it compared to other nights when they had been drinking.
  • The assessor has also picked up clues that this offender drinks most heavily when with friends, so will ask questions about drinking companions, and what level of alcohol consumption is common among them.

Answer these questions:

Questions / Responses and Follow up Questions
Questions / Responses and Follow up Questions

Activity Worksheet: Activity 2-12Page 1

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