MAPPA Risk Contribution
Expert Witness Reports
Our chambers prepares CPR Part 35-compliant MAPPA risk assessment reports for criminal, family, and public law proceedings. Members of our chambers evaluate offender risk levels, multi-agency public protection arrangements, and the appropriateness of MAPPA level 2 or 3 classifications under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and MAPPA guidance.
The expert evidence for
MAPPA level determination.
Our chambers prepares MAPPA risk assessment reports to assist courts and multi-agency panels in determining the appropriate level of public protection supervision. Members of our chambers apply the MAPPA framework, HCR-20, and structured professional judgement to evaluate risk of serious harm and the necessity for inter-agency coordination.
These reports are commissioned in criminal sentencing, parole hearings, family proceedings where offender contact is at issue, and judicial reviews of MAPPA classification decisions. Our experts hold GMC Specialist Register or HCPC registration and are instructed under CPR Part 35, CrimPR 19, or FPR 25 as applicable.
Three procedural stages where
this report is required.
Pre-sentence reports
Our chambers accepts instructions for MAPPA risk assessment reports in Crown Court sentencing under the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The report assists the court in determining whether the offender meets the criteria for MAPPA level 2 or 3 and informs the risk management plan submitted to the MAPPA panel.
Parole Board hearings
Members of our chambers prepare multi agency risk assessment reports for parole hearings where continued detention is contested. The report evaluates the offender’s current risk of serious harm and the effectiveness of proposed licence conditions under MAPPA supervision.
Family court proceedings
Our chambers provides MAPPA expert witness reports in family proceedings where offender contact with children is at issue. The report addresses the risk posed to the child and the adequacy of MAPPA supervision under the Children Act 1989 and Practice Direction 25B.
What the report contains,
section by section.
Expert qualifications & instruction
GMC Specialist Register or HCPC registration, MRCPsych or BPS Chartered status, and the expert’s experience in MAPPA risk assessment. The instructing party, the questions posed, and the documents reviewed under CPR Part 35.3 are listed.
Offender history
Criminal history, index offence details, previous convictions, and any history of violent or sexual offending. The section includes analysis of offence patterns and escalation under the MAPPA framework.
Clinical assessment
Psychiatric diagnosis under ICD-11 or DSM-5-TR, mental state examination, and any relevant personality disorder or paraphilic disorder findings. The assessment addresses treatability and responsivity to intervention.
Risk assessment tools
Application of HCR-20, RSVP, or VRS where clinically indicated. The rationale for tool selection and the scoring methodology are documented in compliance with Practice Direction 35.
MAPPA level opinion
The expert’s reasoned opinion on whether the offender meets the criteria for MAPPA level 2 or 3 under the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The opinion addresses the necessity for multi-agency coordination and public protection.
Risk management plan
Proposed interventions, supervision requirements, and licence conditions. The section includes the expert’s view on the adequacy of the current MAPPA risk management plan and any recommended modifications.
Declaration & statement of truth
CPR Part 35 declaration of compliance, signed statement of truth, and confirmation of the expert’s overriding duty to the court under CPR 35.3. The declaration includes the expert’s independence and impartiality.
How the assessment
is conducted.
Our experts follow a structured methodology to ensure compliance with CPR Part 35 and the Civil Justice Council’s 2014 Guidance. Each step is documented to allow the court to trace the reasoning from instruction to opinion.
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01
Records review
Full review of police, probation, prison, mental health, and social services records. Material entries are identified and their relevance to the MAPPA risk assessment is explained in the report.
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02
Clinical interview
Face-to-face or secure video assessment with the offender, typically lasting 2–3 hours. The interview is trauma-informed and structured around the HCR-20 domains where applicable.
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03
Collateral interviews
Where permitted, interviews with probation officers, prison staff, or mental health professionals. The purpose and scope of these interviews are documented in compliance with CPR 35.7.
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04
Risk tool administration
Administration of HCR-20, RSVP, or VRS as clinically indicated. The rationale for tool selection and the scoring process are detailed in the report.
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05
Formulation & opinion
Clinical formulation linking the offender’s history, clinical presentation, and risk factors. The opinion on MAPPA level and risk management is derived from this formulation under structured professional judgement.
Every category of offender
requiring MAPPA oversight.
Our chambers accepts instructions for MAPPA risk assessment reports across criminal, family, and public law proceedings. The reports are commissioned under CPR Part 35, CrimPR 19, or FPR 25 as applicable.
Questions from
solicitors we work with.
Do your experts provide MAPPA level 2 assessment reports for family court proceedings?
Yes. Members of our chambers prepare MAPPA risk assessment reports for family proceedings under FPR 25. The reports address the risk posed to the child and the adequacy of MAPPA supervision where offender contact is at issue.
Can your experts assess offenders with personality disorders under the MAPPA framework?
Yes. Our consultants include forensic psychiatrists on the GMC Specialist Register with expertise in personality disorder and its relevance to MAPPA risk assessment. The reports address treatability and responsivity to intervention.
Are your MAPPA expert witness reports accepted by the Parole Board?
Yes. Our reports are commissioned under CrimPR 19 and comply with the Parole Board’s expert evidence requirements. The reports are routinely relied upon in parole hearings where continued detention is contested.
Do your experts respond to Part 35 questions on MAPPA risk assessment reports?
Yes. Our experts respond to Part 35 questions under CPR 35.6 and prepare joint statements under CPR 35.12. The responses are proportionate and confined to the expert’s area of expertise.
Can your experts assess offenders for MAPPA level 3 classification?
Yes. Our chambers prepares reports addressing the criteria for MAPPA level 3 under the Criminal Justice Act 2003. The reports evaluate the necessity for multi-agency coordination and the risk of serious harm to the public.
Are remote assessments acceptable for MAPPA risk assessment reports?
Both. Secure video assessment is acceptable where clinically appropriate and permitted by the instructing party. For high-risk offenders or complex presentations, we recommend in-person assessment to ensure robust evaluation.
Need an expert for your
MAPPA risk assessment case?
Send a brief case summary — offender details, index offence, procedural stage, and any time-critical deadlines — and our chambers will confirm availability, scope, and timescales within one working day.