What are static risk factors?

Static risk factors refer to characteristics or variables associated with a person's likelihood of engaging in future delinquent or criminal behavior that do not change over time. These factors typically include demographic aspects such as age, gender, and historical family issues. Because they are inherent to the individual and remain constant, these factors are not controllable or subject to intervention.

Understanding static risk factors is critical in the juvenile justice system as it helps professionals assess the potential risk of reoffending and informs decision-making regarding interventions and management strategies. In contrast, dynamic risk factors can change with circumstances or behavior, such as substance abuse or peer influence, and can be addressed through various interventions or supports. The other options focus on dynamic aspects or factors that can be altered or are not directly related to the nature of risk, which diverges from the definition of static risk factors.