This PhD project aims to study the standardization of preventive methods and structured professional assessments within police crime prevention.
The project investigates the potential importance of structured tools and methodologies in both the development of legal consciousness and ethical considerations within assessments and justifications for preventive measures.
Since Norwegian law does not offer clear frameworks around crime preventive work, it becomes important to study discretionary assessments.
If assessments are based on informal procedures, they often lead to bias and inconsistent processes. Thus, it is argued that decision-making will be improved by using standardized tools that can assess an individuals’ needs and risks.
Through a case-based approach, I will examine the police's experience with this practice in two fields:
The risk assessment tools SARA:SV and PATRIARK.
SARA:SV is a checklist of risk factors used to assess the level of risk for future violence. PATRIARK are guidelines for assessing the future risk of honour-based violence.
I will conduct interviews, field observations and document analysis to explore the Norwegian police's experience with these tools.
A methodology for working with children
Through interviews, field observations, document analysis and quantitative analysis techniques, I will examine the Oslo Police District's methodology for detection, assessment and preventive measures in the person-oriented work towards minors.
I am particularly interested in assessments and justifications for preventive measures and how risk- and protective factors play a role in assessments and decision-making.
Supervisor: Anders Molander (OsloMet).
Co-supervisors: Jon Strype (Norwegian Police University College) and Helene O. I. Gundhus (University of Oslo).
