About the RMA

The Risk Management Authority (RMA) is a Non Departmental Public Body established in 2005 by the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003; and sponsored by the Scottish Government Community Justice Division.

Our purpose is to make Scotland safer by setting the standard for risk practice to reduce reoffending and the harm that it causes.

• we provide education and training in relation to the assessment and management of risk
• we have a statutory duty to give advice and make recommendations to Scottish Ministers
• we carry out, co-ordinate and publish research to promote effective practice
• we have a statutory responsibility to set standards and publish guidelines as to the assessment and management of risk

What we do

We carry out our functions and promote effective practice by drawing evidence from national and international research and development programmes; and then working closely with our partners from across the criminal justice system in Scotland to advance a shared framework approach to risk.

Our duties include a specific responsibility to administer and oversee the standard setting, accreditation and approval processes that support the Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR).

The RMA aims to support those bodies responsible for the management of offenders in both custody and the community. A key aspect of our work is to publish well-considered, effective standards and guidelines that guide practitioners in the preparation and implementation of management plans. These being plans that are tailored to the needs and characteristics of each individual. Effective management, rehabilitation and supervision not only reduce the level of risk, but also give individuals the best chance of returning to the community and leading crimefree lives thereafter.

We provide independent practical advice and highlight the value of quality assurance and implementation integrity to effective and ethical risk practice – this touches on the support we provide to the application of LS/CMI in Scotland. The Level of Service/ Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) is a comprehensive general offending risk/ need assessment and case management planning method. LS/CMI is used across Scotland to aid decisions on the level and focus of intervention with people aged 16+.

Learning and development is a prominent element of RMA activity, responding to needs identified by partners to enhance confidence and competence in risk assessment and risk management. A notable success in this area is our delivery of ‘Fundamentals of Risk Practice’ training – the RMA developed this demanding programme for criminal justice social workers, Police Scotland staff and MAPPA Chairs to provide a grounding in the principles and process that should be evident when assessing and managing risk of serious harm.

A further area we focus on is the application of risk assessment tools and research into their use – a significant aspect of our work is the Risk Assessment Tools Evaluation Directory (RATED). This online publication provides relevant background information on seventy four risk instruments and highlights the strengths and limitations that the assessor should take into account when applying each tool as part of a holistic risk assessment process.

The RMA’s approach seeks to ensure that risk assessment and risk management decisions are defensible and that those processes are administered with integrity.