3 Hours / 3 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on HCR-20-V3 Overview is presented by Kevin S. Douglas, PhD, LLB, in partnership with Protect International Risk and Safety Services.

During this program, Dr. Douglas discusses the revision process for the development of Version 3, outlines the changes from Version 2 to Version 3, provides an overview of the items, and discusses how the measure can be used in practice (implementation issues).

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe the revision process for the development of Version 3 and outline the changes from Version 2 to Version 3.
  • 2 Describe the items of the HCR-20-V3 and discuss how the measure can be used in practice.
  • 3 Describe the basis for Structured Professional Judgment.
  • 4 Describe the implementation issues for changes from Version 2 to Version 3.

  • Intended Audience

    This training is suitable for those interested in learning about the instrument, which is widely used to assess and manage the risk of violence and to develop effective risk management plans. The program is relevant for professionals in mental health, forensic, clinical, criminal justice, and victim support roles, as well as those involved in public safety-focused mental health services.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers)
    • Allied professionals in forensic or clinical psychology
    • Criminal justice professionals (e.g., probation/parole officers, correctional staff)
    • Victim support professionals
    • Public safety-focused mental health service providers

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for mental health professionals at various stages of experience with structured risk assessment measures.

    • Beginner: Participants new to the HCR-20 or structured professional judgment will gain foundational knowledge of the revision process, core concepts, and practical implementation of Version 3.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience using the HCR-20 or similar measures will deepen their understanding of the changes from Version 2 to Version 3, item content, and current research support for the measure.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals apply the HCR-20 V3 in clinical, forensic, and public-safety environments to inform structured assessments, documentation, and risk management planning. Settings include inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services, correctional and court-connected contexts, community supervision programs, victim-support agencies, and university-based clinics where implementation and supervision are emphasized.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Inpatient psychiatric units and forensic hospitals
    • Outpatient/community mental health clinics and forensic outreach teams
    • Correctional facilities (jails, prisons) and detention centers
    • Probation/parole and community supervision offices
    • Court clinics, competency/restoration services, and pretrial services
    • Victim support and advocacy agencies
    • Threat assessment and public-safety teams (law enforcement–mental health partnerships, crisis response)
    • University training clinics, research centers, and supervision settings
Presented By

Kevin Douglas, PhD, LLB

Dr. Kevin S. Douglas received his law degree (LL.B.) in 2000 from the University of British Columbia, and his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in clinical (forensic) psychology from Simon Fraser University. He spent three years on faculty at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and has been on faculty at Simon Fraser University since 2004. He currently is Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University. He is also a Guest Professor of Applied Criminology at Mid-Sweden University, and a Senior Research Advisor at the University of Oslo. He received a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Career Scholar Award (2005-2010), and was the recipient of the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Excellence in Psychology and Law (2005), awarded jointly by the American Psychology-Law Society and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. Dr. Douglas has authored over 150 journal articles, books, or book chapters.


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Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Basis of Structured Professional Judgment

  • Growth of HCR-20 Research

  • Why Revise the HCR-20?

  • Goals and Process of Revision

  • Version 3 Risk Factors

  • Clinical and Research Support

  • Administration Steps

  • Communicating with Clients and Trainees About AI

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.