Risk assessments used to justify Australia’s post-sentence terrorism detentions need urgent research, report finds

The Australian Institute of Criminology has found the risk assessment tools used to justify post-sentence detention require urgent research. Photograph: Joe Castro/AAP

A new report has warned risk assessment tools being used to justify extraordinary post-sentence terror detention powers require urgent, independent research and validation.

The Australian Institute of Criminology on Friday released a report prepared for the department of home affairs on the use of four risk assessment tools, which are designed to gauge the threat posed by radicalised offenders and, in some cases, justify them being held behind bars or closely supervised after their sentences have been served.