A parole program offers prisoners a chance to be released from prison ...
A. The parole board is not legally obligated to accept the recommendations of the violence risk assessment report prepared by a qualified psychologist.
This answer choice is not directly relevant to the assumption being sought. It discusses the legal obligations of the parole board but does not address the effectiveness or necessity of the violence risk assessment itself. Therefore, it is not the correct assumption.
B. A parole screening process will surely be effective if it includes a violence risk assessment conducted by a qualified psychologist.
This answer choice suggests that the inclusion of a violence risk assessment conducted by a qualified psychologist ensures the effectiveness of the parole screening process. This assumption aligns with the conclusion that the assessment is an essential step in an effective parole screening process. If this assumption were not true, it would undermine the conclusion. Therefore, it is a strong candidate for the correct assumption.
C. A prisoner who is not assessed to pose a high risk of re-offending should be released from prison without conditions.
This answer choice introduces a separate condition for the release of prisoners who do not pose a high risk of re-offending. While it may be a valid consideration in the parole process, it is not directly related to the assumption being sought, which pertains to the effectiveness and necessity of the violence risk assessment. Therefore, it is not the correct assumption.
D. Psychologists conducting violence risk assessments are able to identify those prisoners who are unsuitable for early release.
This answer choice directly addresses the assumption being sought. It assumes that psychologists conducting violence risk assessments have the ability to identify prisoners who are unsuitable for early release. If this assumption were not true, it would undermine the conclusion that the assessment is an essential step in an effective parole screening process. Therefore, it is a strong candidate for the correct assumption.
E. Prisoners applying for parole need not undergo a violence risk assessment if they were imprisoned for a non-violent offense.
This answer choice introduces a condition based on the nature of the offense committed by prisoners. However, it does not directly address the assumption being sought, which pertains to the effectiveness and necessity of the violence risk assessment. Therefore, it is not the correct assumption.
After evaluating each answer choice, we can conclude that the correct assumption is (D) "Psychologists conducting violence risk assessments are able to identify those prisoners who are unsuitable for early release." This assumption is necessary for the conclusion that the violence risk assessment is an essential step in an effective parole screening process. If the psychologists conducting the assessments are unable to identify prisoners who are unsuitable for early release, then the assessment would not serve its intended purpose and would not be essential in the process.