20 Hours / 20 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on the Evaluation of Risk for Intimate Partner Violence using the SARA Version 3 is presented by Stephen D. Hart, Ph.D., in partnership with Protect International Risk and Safety Services.

The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide has become popular worldwide as a method for assessing and managing risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). It has been translated into 10 languages and is used by diverse professionals in numerous countries across six continents. The third version of the guidelines, the SARA-V3, was published in 2015 by Drs. Randall Kropp and Stephen Hart.

This program covers topics such as principles of violence risk assessment and management; the development of the SARA-V3; the use of the SARA-V3 for intimate partner violence risk assessment and management; and the effective implementation of the SARA-V3 into practice in light of both institutional and community challenges.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the nature of intimate partner violence,
  • 2 Describe intimate partner homicide
  • 3 Describe intimate partner violence risk
  • 4 Describe the principles of violence risk assessment
  • 5 Describe the structured professional judgment (SPJ) approaches
  • 6 Describe principles of violence risk management approaches
  • 7 Describe principles of scenario planning approaches
  • 8 Describe violence against current or former intimate partner
  • 9 Describe the development of the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA-V3)
  • 10 Describe administration of the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA-V3)
  • 11 Describe coding of the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA-V3)
  • 12 Describe the interpretation of the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA-V3)

  • Intended Audience

    This training program is designed for mental health and allied professionals involved in risk assessment and management, with a particular emphasis on intimate partner violence (IPV). It is especially relevant for those utilizing structured professional judgment tools such as the SARA-V3 and is suitable for individuals seeking to enhance their knowledge and practical skills in IPV evaluation and effective risk management.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Psychiatrist
    • Counselor
    • Social Worker
    • Criminal Justice Professional
    • Legal Services Professional
    • Social Services or Victim Services Professional
    • Healthcare Provider
    • Human Resources Specialist
    • Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
    • Law Enforcement Officer
    • Security Professional

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for professionals involved in risk assessment and management, with a particular focus on intimate partner violence (IPV) and the use of structured professional judgment tools such as the SARA-V3. It is especially relevant for those specializing in violence risk assessment and management across a variety of disciplines.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, social workers)
    • Criminal justice professionals (probation officers, parole officers)
    • Legal professionals (attorneys, legal advocates)
    • Social services and victim services professionals
    • Healthcare providers (nurses, physicians)
    • Law enforcement and security personnel
    • Human resources and occupational health and safety specialists

  • Practice Setting

    Practice settings for professionals involved in IPV risk assessment and management are diverse, reflecting the broad application of tools like the SARA-V3. These individuals typically work in environments where assessment, intervention, and management of risk are critical, often collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Settings may include clinical, forensic, community, and organizational contexts, where professionals interact directly with individuals at risk, provide consultation, or develop policies and procedures to address intimate partner violence.


    Examples of practice settings:
    • Outpatient mental health clinics and private practices
    • Hospital psychiatric units and emergency departments
    • Community counseling centers and crisis intervention services
    • Social service agencies and victim support organizations
    • Correctional facilities and probation/parole offices
    • Family courts and legal aid organizations
    • Police departments and specialized domestic violence units
    • University counseling centers and student health services
    • Workplace employee assistance programs (EAPs)
    • Human resources and occupational health departments in large organizations
    • Security departments in healthcare or corporate settings
Presented By

Stephen D. Hart, PhD

Dr. Stephen D. Hart obtained BA, MA, and Ph.D. degrees in psychology at the University of British Columbia. He has been on faculty in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University since 1990 and has held the rank of Professor since 2001. He also served as a Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Bergen in Norway between 2000 and 2021. His expertise is in the field of clinical-forensic psychology, with a special focus on the assessment of violence risk and psychopathic personality disorder. He has co-authored more than 250 books, chapters, and articles. He has served as editor of two scientific journals, a member of the editorial board of eight journals, and an ad hoc reviewer for more than 40 journals. He has served as an executive committee member of several professional organizations, including the President of the American Psychology-Law Society and the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services. He has received various distinctions for his professional work, including the Career Achievement Award from the Society of Clinical Psychology, the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Research Excellence in Psychology and Law from the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology, and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. He maintains an active practice in violence risk assessment. He has consulted with government agencies from more than 25 countries; led more than 500 training workshops around the world; and given expert evidence before courts, tribunals, inquests, review boards, and parliamentary committees in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • The nature of intimate partner violence, including intimate partner homicide and intimate partner violence risk.

  • Principles of violence risk assessment, focusing on structured professional judgment (SPJ) approaches.

  • Principles of violence risk management, focusing on scenario planning approaches.

  • Assessing and Managing Risk for Intimate Partner Violence Focuses on violence against a current or former intimate partner, one of the most common and dangerous forms of violence.

  • Administration, coding, and interpretation of the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide (SARA-V3).

We are proud to partner with

Protect International Risk and Safety Services

Protect International Risk and Safety Services

We are proud to partner with Protect International Risk and Safety Services for this training. Protect International's threat assessment professionals are internationally recognized experts that have developed some of the world's most widely used and best-validated threat assessment tools. Protect International provides services and products related to violence risk assessment and management, also known as threat assessment and management. Protect International services and products include threat assessment training and support, case assessment and management, legal consultation, policy review and development, and program evaluation and research; along with threat assessment manuals, worksheets, licenses, and software applications for those tools.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.