MOSAIC Frequently Asked Questions

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Yes, in many ways. One recent example is the study completed by the U.S. Department of Justice and Johns Hopkins University (Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment Validation Study). The comprehensive project found that DV-MOSAIC:

• Tested highest on what the researchers called "sensitivity," correctly classifying most of the women that were indeed re-assaulted;
• Performed best in predicting subsequent stalking or threats;
• Had the strongest correlation between the victims' perception of risk of re-assault and risk of serious harm;
• Captured relevant information equally well with victims of various ethnicities;
• Had scores that were significantly associated with abuse, and;
• Provided uniformity to assessment (called Inter-rater Reliability) such that ten different people of different abilities and styles will come up with the same preliminary rating.

To read more about the Department of Justice, click here: https://www.mosaicmethod.com/documents/DOJ_Study.pdf

Not at all. Unlike a checklist, MOSAIC guides an in-depth exploration of a given situation, and offers a comprehensive range of answers to each question.

The range of answers is at the heart of the MOSAIC method, far more effective than a Yes/No checklist. For example, imagine being asked what you thought of a movie you just saw, and having only two choices in your answer: "Best movie I ever saw," or "Worst movie I ever saw." Clearly, a high quality assessment could not be gained with that restriction, yet that's what checklists tend to do - offer answers at the two ends of a range, without considering all the many variations in complex situations.

Everything you enter is completely private. This online system allows you to answer questions and enter information, then print a report. When you delete the assessments you do, they are gone. Nobody other than you ever has access to the information you enter.

MOSAIC does not tell people what to do. The MOSAIC method is more like diagnosis, and less like treatment.

No. MOSAIC is the exact opposite of profiling. Profiles are hypothetical (e.g., "An unidentified serial killer will turn out to be a male Caucasian in his mid-thirties who likes fast cars"). MOSAIC is never hypothetical. It always concerns actual, identified individuals.

Profiles are often collections of demographic factors. MOSAIC is never concerned with such things as race, appearance, socioeconomic level, or gender. MOSAIC explores only behavior and circumstance.

Profiles are often applied to large groups (e.g., an airline develops a "hijacker profile" and then observes all passengers to see who matches). MOSAIC is never applied to groups, only to those specific individuals who come to someone's attention because of self-identifying behaviors such as making a threat.

MOSAIC seeks to recognize risk in situations, not to identify so-called "dangerous" people.

MOSAIC does not make decisions. Think of computer-aided engineering: The computer doesn't design the jet - but it does help the designer. MOSAIC is a tool that can improve the assessment process, but individuals make decisions about what to do.

MOSAIC never identifies anyone as "dangerous." Neither the word nor the concept appear within MOSAIC systems. This is because dangerousness is not a permanent state of being, or an attribute of a person; dangerousness is situational.

The earliest MOSAIC was used by Gavin de Becker & Associates as part of assessing alarming letters sent to famous people and public officials. The California State Police then began using a MOSAIC system for screening threats to the Governor and other constitutional officers. The U.S. Supreme Court Police and the U.S. Capitol Police followed, along with LAPD, and then the Federal Reserve. The U.S. Marshals service co-designed a MOSAIC system for assessing threats to judges. Eventually, MOSAIC was adopted by state police agencies protecting twelve Governors, as well as by the CIA, twenty-five leading universities, and many police departments.

MOSAIC is not designed or intended to be used as evidence in court proceedings, however the information gained in response to MOSAIC questions might well be admissible in court.

MOSAIC is used as the name of the method for a few reasons. First, because the method combines many factors together to form a clear picture of a situation - much like a mosaic in art. Next, MOSAIC is two different acronyms.

1. Method for Objectively Selecting Areas of Inquiry Consistently;
2. The first MOSAIC system was developed for assessing alarming communications sent to famous people, and there were six areas of inquiry, titled Menace, Object, Subject, Affect, Intensity, and Clarity.

Your assessments are saved in your account.

• Log in to your MOSAIC account.
• After you have agreed to the terms and conditions, you will be redirected to your assessments page (where you originally created your assessment).
• Scroll your browser down until you see the section titled "Revisit your Existing Assessments." Select the assessment you wish to view or complete.
• Once you are in the assessment, click the "Finish Assessment" tab right above the question panel. You will be redirected to your MOSAIC report.
• For your convenience, there is a "Print this Report" link at the top and bottom of the report.

No. Users need accurate information about the situation being assessed, and the quality of an assessment requires honesty when selecting answers. No special training or skill is required, just a willingness to take an honest look at the situation.