Salient Factor Score

Development of the Salient Factor Score

The SFS is an empirically validated risk assessment tool incorporating an objective scale developed by the U.S. Parole Commission. The U.S. Parole Commission first used the SFS and parole guidelines in 1972. The SFS was not the first predictive instrument; other measures were available, but they did not have a strong effect on parole decisions. The U.S. Parole Commission was the first paroling agency to employ the use of a risk instrument in a way that clearly affected decisions regarding parole.

The original 1972 SFS was composed of eleven items. The SFS has been revised several times since then, and most of these revisions have resulted in a reduction in the number of factors considered predictive in the decision-making process. Items regarding noncriminal history, heroin dependency, and status have been deleted from updated versions of the SFS. Additionally, in 1998 the Parole Commission revised the SFS by increasing the weight given to prior commitments and age at offense and deleted the drug-use item. The revised SFS was designated as SFS 98.

The U.S. Parole Commission's version of the SFS 98 contains six items that are weighted according to their importance to the total risk score. These factors include the offender's prior convictions, previous commitments for more than 30 days, the offender's age at the time of the current offense in conjunction with prior commitments, the length of time without commitments prior to current offense, whether the offender was on probation, parole, confinement, or escape status at the time of the current offense, and whether the offender is considered older. Statistically, reducing the number of items on the instrument has not been detrimental to its predictive power. The benefits of using the SFS 98 are that the items are objective, easily scored, few in number, and unable to be manipulated by offenders.

SFS Components, Scoring, and Guidelines

The first component that the SFS 98 examines is the frequency of prior convictions as an adult or juvenile. Offenders can receive between zero and three points [Page 404]on this item, and scores range from 3 for none to 0 for four or more convictions. The SFS 98 then looks at prior commitments of more than 30 days. Scores range from 2 for none to 0 for three or more commitments. The third component examines the offender's age in conjunction with the number of previous commitments. There are four age categories: 19 and younger, 20–21 years, 22–25 years, and 26 and older. Scores range from 0 to 3, depending on the individual's age and prior commitments.

...