Dynamic Risk Factors are best described as:

• A. They are unchangeable
• B. They are characteristics that cannot be changed
• C. They are characteristics that can be changed over time
• D. They are unrelated to behavior

Answer: (C)

Dynamic risk factors are characteristics that can be changed over time. They are aspects of a person’s circumstances or behavior that fluctuate and respond to intervention, such as substance use, employment status, attitudes, pro-social supports, and peer influences. Because these factors can be targeted and improved through treatment, supervision, and support, they directly relate to reducing the chance of future offending. This is in contrast to static risk factors—like age at first offense or past criminal history—that are unchangeable. So the best description is that these characteristics can be changed over time.