1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Specialized Violence: Group-Based Violence is presented by Stephen D. Hart, PhD, in partnership with Protect International Risk and Safety Services.

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2002), group-based violence encompasses phenomena such as violence perpetrated by criminal organizations, street and youth gangs, cults, and so forth. Concerns regarding group-based violence have increased in recent years and place a significant burden on national and international agencies responsible for public safety. Further, the individual and societal costs of this type of violence are substantial. This program provides a general conceptual overview of group-based violence. It reviews recent empirical advances in our understanding of the factors relevant to its cause and management, with a particular focus on factors that are shared versus unique concerning group-based and individual violence. This program also includes a case presentation to illustrate the complexities of group-based violence and the use of structured professional judgment tools such as the HCR-20 V3 and Multi-Level Guidelines to assess risk for group-based violence.

Learning Objectives

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

  • 1 Describe group-based violence and identify unique and shared risk factors for group-based and individual violence
  • 2 Describe recent empirical advances in our understanding of group-based violence
  • 3
    Describe structured professional judgment guidelines in the assessment and management of risk for group-based violence

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for professionals who assess and manage risks related to group-based violence, with a focus on understanding both individual and collective dynamics of violence and applying evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies. It is relevant to those specializing in forensic psychology, criminology, violence risk assessment, and related fields, as well as those involved in violence prevention, public safety, and workplace safety.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Forensic psychologists
    • Mental health professionals
    • Criminologists
    • Violence risk assessors
    • Law enforcement officers
    • Correctional staff
    • Security and public safety personnel
    • Social service and community intervention workers
    • Healthcare professionals involved in violence prevention
    • Educators and school safety officers
    • Human resources professionals managing workplace safety

  • Experience Level

    This CE training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various experience levels.

    • Beginner: Participants new to the topic or with limited experience in violence risk assessment will gain foundational knowledge of group-based violence, including key concepts and risk factors.

    • Intermediate: Participants with some experience in violence risk assessment or forensic settings will deepen their understanding of recent empirical advances and learn to apply structured professional judgment tools to group-based violence cases.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals practice in high-risk, multidisciplinary settings across institutional, community, and organizational environments where group dynamics influence violence risk. Work involves direct assessment, case consultation, and coordinated management planning using structured professional judgment alongside justice, health, and safety stakeholders.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • Forensic hospitals and secure psychiatric units
    • Correctional facilities and probation/parole services
    • Law enforcement agencies and threat assessment units
    • Public safety departments and emergency management
    • Community violence prevention and youth outreach programs
    • Courts, forensic clinics, and pretrial services
    • Hospitals, emergency departments, and behavioral health programs
    • Schools, universities, and campus safety offices
    • Corporate workplaces and HR/employee safety programs

Presented By

Stephen D. Hart, PhD Faculty in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University

Dr. Stephen D. Hart obtained BA, MA, and PhD 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 ad hoc reviewer for more than 40 journals. He has served as an executive committee member of several professional organizations, including 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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Stephen D. Hart, PhD
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).



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) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 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), SW CPE 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 and 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. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #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. CONCEPT Professional Training 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.