Assessing Risk In Sex Offenders

Assessing Risk in Sex Offenders: A Practitioner's Guide is a handy resource for forensic practitioners responsible for assessing an managing sexual offenders at risk of recidivism. It covers the risk factors associated with sexual recidivism, evaluates risk assessment approaches and offers guidance on how to conduct forensic evaluations. Written by an expert author team, Assessing risk in Sex Offenders: A Practitioner's Guide examines: The characteristics of sexual offenders Methodological considerations in measuring predictive accuracy Static and dynamic factors Structured risk assessments Treatment of sexual offenders Policy and practices Assessing Risk in Sex Offenders: A Practitioner's Guide is an essential resource for clinical and forensic psychologists, forensic psychiatrists, undergraduate and postgraduate students in forensic and clinical psychology, and prison and probation officers.

This comprehensive reference by nationally recognized experts provides an interdisciplinary overview of existing knowledge about sex offenders. It provides in-depth coverage of the problem of identification, risk assessment and management, treatment, and legal solutions. It seeks to ensure public safety while at the same time maintaining medical integrity and respect for due process. The book is intended for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and researchers who work with sex offenders, as well as attorneys, members of the judiciary, and policymakers.

A comprehensive resource for practitioners working with sexual offenders. Discusses assessments and interventions, as well as providing a comprehensive literature review There are around 10,000 convictions or cautions for sexual offences in the UK each year; early evidence suggests that treatment programmes can halve re-conviction rates Edited by a University of Birmingham team who are world leaders in researching this area; the subject is of interest worldwide, with strong markets in Canada and New Zealand Includes material on managing offenders with developmental disabilities and those with Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder

This book reviews the scientific evidence relevant to assessing the recidivism risk of sex offenders, as well as the issues related to sex offenders, in considerable detail. It is not an attempt for creating sympathy for sex offenders. Substantial numbers of psychologists claim they can accurately identify the recidivism risk of sex offenders. Despite the very limited, peer-reviewed data related to these claims, many psychologists insist the scientific evidence supports their efforts in this regard. Too often, the issues detailed in these chapters have been overlooked and/or misinterpreted. As a result, the likelihood of psychologists misusing and abusing scientific data when assessing sex offenders should not be underestimated. This book identifies numerous instances of such misuse and abuse. Topics include: sexually violent person civil commitment statutes, clinical judgment and clinical experience, guided clinical risk assessments, actuarial assessment of recidivism risk, actuarial instruments for assessing recidivism risk, computing classification accuracy, supplementary assessment procedures, adjusted actuarial assessments, diagnostic classification, treating sex offenders, and ethical obligations. Ultimately, however, the book challenges psychologists to recognize and respond to their scientific and professional responsibilities. When testifying as expert witnesses, ethical obligations prohibit psychologists from misinforming and misleading legal proceedings. These same obligations necessitate that psychologists support their opinions with relevant research data.

Evaluating Sex Offenders is the first and only "how to" book describing the complete sex offender civil commitment evaluation. Aimed at helping practitioners, clinicians, counselors, and parole officers assess risk and evaluate offenders who have been convicted of a sex crime, the text offers readers a step-by-step description of what examiners need to know, including information gathering, interviewing offenders, and writing reports. Chapter topics include: defining risk; data gathering; diagnostic issues; recidivism base rates; risk factor lists; actuarial scales; instrumentation (violent and sexual); the evaluation report; presenting in court; ethical issues.

This expert reference provides a broad, comprehensive review of the major domains of sexual offending. Beginning with an integrated etiological model of sexual offending, chapters follow addressing the primary predisposing conditions related to sexual offending (e.g. pedophilic, hebephilic, paraphilic rape and non-contact paraphilic disorders, hyper sexuality and personality factors). In addition, special subgroups of sexual offenders (females, youth and the intellectually disable) are considered. Both broad and specific perspectives on the assessment of sexual offenders are provided. Overviews are offered of clinical and forensic evaluations of such offenders and the utility of structured psychological assessment. A novel conceptual model of risk assessment is proposed. More specifically, each of the primary approaches or instruments related to risk assessment of sexual offending are addressed: the Static risk assessment measures, the Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide, structured professional judgment, and the varied measures of dynamic or criminogenic needs assessment. Finally, multiple aspects of management of sexual offenders are discussed including models of psychosocial treatment, the question of the effectiveness of such treatment, biological interventions, civil commitment, circles of support, and the containment approach to community management. Chapters are authored by both prominent experts and experienced professionals for a breadth of perspective. Among the topics covered: Pedophilic, Hebephilic, Rape Paraphilic Disorders and the variety of Non Contact sexual offending conditions Personality, related conditions, & their association with sexual offending: motivators and disinhibition in context. Disorders of hyper sexuality. Assessments of sexual offenders, including the role of psychological testing, clinical & interview approaches, as well as forensic evaluations Conceptual models of risk assessment & discussion of specific static, dynamic & structured clinical risk assessment approaches Models of & reviews of treatment outcome with sexual offenders, including psychotherapy, psychopharmacology and castration, the containment approach, civil commitment & circles of support Overview of public policy issues & an evidence-based perspective on sex offender registration and residential restrictions. This breadth of material in Sexual Offenders will help practitioners gain multiple levels of clinical insight as well as giving them up-to-date practical tools and techniques for working with this problematic class of individuals.

The role of Public Protection Panels is to assess and manage sexual and violent offenders in the community. The Panels' decisions are made on the basis of information from a range of risk assessment methods. This report provides an overview of the different means of risk assessment and management for such offenders.

A comprehensive guide to the theory, research and practice of violence risk management The Wiley Handbook of What Works in Violence Risk Management: Theory, Research and Practice offers a comprehensive guide to the theory, research and practice of violence risk management. With contributions from a panel of noted international experts, the book explores the most recent advances to the theoretical understanding, assessment and management of violent behavior. Designed to be an accessible resource, the highly readable chapters address common issues associated with violent behavior such as alcohol misuse and the less common issues for example offenders with intellectual disabilities. Written for both those new to the field and professionals with years of experience, the book offers a wide-ranging review of who commit acts of violence, their prevalence in society and the most recent explanations for their behavior. The contributors explore various assessment approaches and highlight specialized risk assessment instruments. The Handbook provides the latest evidence on effective treatment and risk management and includes a number of well-established and effective treatment interventions for violent offenders. This important book: Contains an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the topic Includes contributions from an international panel of experts Offers information on violence risk formulation Reveals the most recent techniques in violence risk assessment Explains what works in violence intervention Reviews specialty clinical assessments Written for clinicians and other professionals in the field of violence prevention and assessment, The Wiley Handbook of What Works in Violence Risk Management is unique in its approach because it offers a comprehensive review of the topic rather than like other books on the market that take a narrower view.