Violence Risk Assessment in Switzerland

There is a high level of public demand for accurate, reliable methods of violence risk assessment in Switzerland as well as standardized regulations for the use of such methods. An essential step in this process has been the design and validation of risk assessment tools, which has improved collaborative communication among professionals in the nation’s healthcare and justice systems. In this chapter, an overview is provided of the Swiss healthcare and criminal justice systems, and current policies and legal statutes relevant to violence risk assessment are explored. The use and perceived utility of violence risk assessment tools, including those used most often in Switzerland, are examined. Finally, suggestions for future research and practice-related innovation are put forth, including the importance of formal training on the use of risk assessment tools as well as the translation of such instruments into Switzerland’s four national languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansh).