R. Karl Hanson

R. Karl Hanson is an Adjunct Research Professor at the Department of Psychology, Carleton University, within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo. Formerly a researcher with Public Safety Canada (1991–2017), he is currently President of SAARNA: The Society for the Advancement of Actuarial Risk Need Assessment.

His research focuses on risk assessment and rehabilitation for individuals in criminal justice and forensic mental health systems, particularly those with histories of sexual offending. He emphasizes statistical methods for quantifying risk and evaluating behavioral change over time. Key contributions include the 2022 publication Prediction statistics for psychological assessment.

Dr. Hanson’s expertise bridges clinical psychology, forensic science, and quantitative analysis. His work aims to improve evidence-based practices in offender management and public safety, leveraging statistical rigor to address complex forensic challenges.