Risk assessments help your agency evaluate client risk levels using standardized tools, generate detailed reports, and make informed pretrial decisions. With eCourtDate, you can run Public Safety Assessments, build custom questionnaires, and track scores over time.

### Overview

- **What it is:** A built-in assessment engine that lets you run risk evaluations, score responses, and generate client reports directly within eCourtDate.
- **Why it matters:** Consistent, data-driven assessments reduce bias in pretrial decisions and provide documented justification for supervision levels.
- **Who uses it:** Pretrial officers, case managers, supervisors, and judges who need structured risk data to guide case decisions.
- **Expected outcomes:** Completed assessments with scored results, downloadable reports, and automated notifications to relevant parties.

### Prerequisites

- An active eCourtDate account with the **Assessments** permission enabled
- At least one client record in the system
- Assessment templates configured by your agency administrator (or use the default Public Safety Assessment)
- Appropriate role: Pretrial Officer, Case Manager, or Administrator

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Open the Assessments Module

1. Click **Assessments** from the main navigation menu.
2. Review the list of existing assessments or click **Create Assessment** to start a new one.

#### Step 2: Select a Client and Assessment Type

1. Click **Create Assessment** to open the new assessment form.
2. Search for and select the client by name or case number in the **Client** field.
3. Select the assessment type from the **Assessment Template** dropdown (for example, **Public Safety Assessment**).
4. Click **Start Assessment** to begin.

#### Step 3: Complete the Assessment Questions

1. Answer each question in the assessment form by selecting the appropriate response or entering the required information.
2. Review any auto-populated fields pulled from the client's case history.
3. Add notes in the **Comments** field for any question that requires additional context.
4. Click **Next** to move through each section of the assessment.

#### Step 4: Review and Submit the Assessment

1. Review the summary screen showing all responses and the calculated risk score.
2. Make corrections by clicking **Edit** next to any section.
3. Click **Submit Assessment** to finalize and save the results.

#### Step 5: Generate and Share the Report

1. Open the completed assessment from the **Assessments** list.
2. Click **Generate Report** to create a downloadable PDF.
3. Click **Send Results** to notify relevant parties (judges, attorneys, supervisors) via email or message.
4. Optionally, click **Create Event** to schedule a follow-up based on the assessment outcome.

### What to Expect

After submitting an assessment, the risk score is immediately calculated and stored on the client's record. Reports are available for download within seconds. If notifications are configured, recipients receive the results automatically. Assessment history is retained so you can track score changes over time and identify trends across your caseload.

### Best Practices

- Run assessments as early in the pretrial process as possible to inform initial supervision decisions.
- Use the **Comments** field to document context that the scored questions may not capture.
- Review historical assessment scores before conducting a new evaluation to track client progress.
- Establish agency-wide standards for which assessment template to use for each case type.
- Schedule periodic reassessments to ensure supervision levels reflect current risk.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can I customize the questions in an assessment template?**
A: Yes. Administrators can create custom assessment templates with agency-specific questions by navigating to **Settings** > **Assessment Templates** and clicking **Create Template**.

**Q: How is the risk score calculated?**
A: Each response carries a weighted value defined in the assessment template. The system totals the weighted scores and maps the result to a risk category (low, moderate, or high) based on your agency's configured thresholds.

**Q: Can I edit an assessment after it has been submitted?**
A: Submitted assessments are locked to preserve data integrity. If corrections are needed, you can create a new assessment for the same client and add a note referencing the prior evaluation.

**Q: Who receives notifications when an assessment is completed?**
A: Notifications are sent to the parties you select on the **Send Results** screen. Your agency can also configure automatic notifications to judges or supervisors in **Settings** > **Notifications**.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** The risk score does not appear after submitting the assessment.
**Symptoms:** The summary screen shows "Score Pending" or a blank value.
**Solution:** Ensure all required questions are answered. Return to the assessment, check for skipped fields highlighted in red, complete them, and resubmit.

**Issue:** A client does not appear in the client search when creating an assessment.
**Symptoms:** The **Client** field returns no results.
**Solution:** Verify the client record exists by searching in **Clients** from the main navigation. If the record is missing, create it first, then return to **Assessments**.

### Related Articles

- [How to Manage Cases](how-to-manage-cases)
- [How to Use Dashboards and Reports](how-to-use-dashboards)
- [How to Manage Clients](how-to-manage-clients)