Sex Offender Risk Assessment

All sex offender evaluations or psychosexual evaluations include a detailed risk assessment that includes use of actuarial instruments (when appropriate) and other research based risk and protective factors. Recidivism rates are not uniform across all sex offenders and once convicted, most sexual offenders are never re-convicted of another sexual offense. First time sex offenders are significantly less likely to sexually re-offend than are those with previous sexual convictions. In addition, for those sex offenders who have re-offended, the longer they remain in the community offense-free, the less likely they are to re-offend sexually (up to 50% for each 5 year period they remain offense free). Research has found that contemporary cognitive-behavioral treatment for sex offenders is associated with reductions in sexual offense recidivism rates from 10% to 17% after approximately 5 years of follow-up. Sexual offenders with a credible release plan are lower risk than sexual offenders without such a plan, and cooperation with supervision is a well-established factor that reduces risk (and non-compliance with supervision increases sexual re-offense risk).

The sex offender evaluation outlines the individual's mental disorder(s), a prognosis regarding the estimated risk to sexually re-offend including categorical (e.g., Level I, Level II, Level III, Level IVa, Level IVb), relative risk (the unusualness of their scores and how they compare to the typical sex offender), sexual deviancy issues, treatment need and amenability, possible mitigating factors, and other recommendations as appropriate. The following areas are also investigated in psychosexual evaluations:.

• Sexual developmental history, sexual arousal patterns and interest, deviance and paraphilic disorders

• Personality pathology and strengths

• Level of deception, denial, minimization and use of justifications

• Acceptance of responsibility and accountability for behavior

• Mental disorder and relevant prior mental health history

• Drug and alcohol use

• Recent maladaptive behavior

• Medical/neurological/pharmacological needs

• Level of violence and coercion

• Motivation and amenability for treatment

• High-risk behaviors

• Risk of re-offense including actuarial risk and other empirical based risk and protective factors

• Level of treatment and supervision need

Darcie R Clark LPCC-S, LMHC,LCDCIII  specializes in the evaluation of sex offenders and psychosexual evaluations. She has expertise evaluating individuals charged with sexual crimes, and performing comprehensive credible sex offender risk assessments that have been accepted by State and Federal courts. Psychological and psychosexual evaluation of a sexual offender requires a review of all materials relevant to the offenses, including statements to the police, previous psychological evaluations, witness accounts of his/her behavior, and past criminal record. Such sex offender psychosexual evaluations typically include a comprehensive review of all available legal, medical, and mental health records.