Which aspect of a defendant's profile is NOT typically included in risk assessments?

Risk assessments are tools used to evaluate the likelihood that a defendant may fail to appear for court or commit new offenses while out on pretrial release. These assessments typically rely on various factors that have been statistically shown to correlate with a defendant's behavior.

Employment history is important, as stable employment may indicate a lower risk of flight or recidivism. Age can also play a role, as research shows different age groups may pose varying levels of risk. The severity of current charges is a significant factor, as more serious offenses may suggest a higher risk due to the potential consequences faced by the defendant.

Ethnic background, however, is not a standard factor in risk assessments due to ethical considerations and concerns regarding bias. Including ethnic background could perpetuate systemic discrimination and undermine the validity of the assessment, as it does not directly correlate to the individual's behavior or risk profile. Thus, it is excluded from these evaluations to ensure fairness and objectivity in the pretrial release decision-making process.