Psychosexual Evaluations
Generally speaking, psychosexual evaluations are designed to identify the following (see ATSA, 2005):
• Level of risk for sexual and non–sexual recidivism;
• Recommended types and intensity of interventions that will be most beneficial, including level of care (e.g., community versus more secure placement);
• The specific dynamic risk factors or criminogenic needs to be targeted through interventions;
• Amenability to interventions;
• Responsivity factors that may impact engagement in and response to interventions; and
• Strengths and protective factors relative to the individual, as well as those that exist within family, peer, and other community support systems.
Conversely, psychosexual evaluations should never be used for any of the following purposes:
• Determining guilt or innocence (which is well outside of the scope and boundaries of the mental health professional’s role);
• Identifying whether an individual is or is not a “sex offender” (which is not an appropriate referral question, because no specific type of assessment or set of assessment tools is designed for making this determination); or
• Concluding whether an adult or juvenile meets the “profile” of a sex offender (which does not exist; research consistently demonstrates the diversity of adults and juveniles who have committed sex offenses).
Timing
Ideally, psychosexual evaluations are conducted pre–sentence or disposition and post–conviction or adjudication as a means of assisting judges and other interested parties with making well–informed disposition determinations. When conducted prior to the official ruling or finding by the trier–of–fact, several ethical and other controversies may arise. Included among these concerns are the potential for the defendant’s self–incrimination pertaining to current allegations, the possibility of additional charges being pursued because of disclosures of previously undetected offenses, and the introduction of overly prejudicial information that undermines the presumption of innocence or that otherwise influences the court’s finding.
In a limited number of circumstances, some of these concerns may be potentially mitigated, such as when the adult or juvenile admits to the allegations or agrees to the evaluation on the advice of counsel, when all parties agree to a pre–plea evaluation and agree to follow any recommendations as part of a plea negotiation process, or when the prosecution agrees not to file additional charges based on information disclosed during a pre–plea evaluation. Nonetheless, psychosexual evaluations are maximally useful and less subject to controversy when conducted following a conviction or adjudication.
Testing Process
The psychosexual evaluation typically consists of completion of multiple assessment and actuarial tools as well as case information review, mental health screens, a clinical interview and more. The evaluation process varies in duration depending upon the client and the circumstances regarding their particular case. The evaluation and interview can often be completed within one or two visits lasting approximately six to eight hours total. After the client completes the assessment and interview process clinicians compile data, review screening results and compose a formal evaluation which can then be sent to the evaluations requesting party.
If you have further questions or would like more information regarding Resolution Treatment Services Psychosexual Evaluations please contact Jason VanRuler or Greg Brostad here.
Amended from http://www.csom.org/pubs/cap/2/2_4.htm
• Level of risk for sexual and non–sexual recidivism;
• Recommended types and intensity of interventions that will be most beneficial, including level of care (e.g., community versus more secure placement);
• The specific dynamic risk factors or criminogenic needs to be targeted through interventions;
• Amenability to interventions;
• Responsivity factors that may impact engagement in and response to interventions; and
• Strengths and protective factors relative to the individual, as well as those that exist within family, peer, and other community support systems.
Conversely, psychosexual evaluations should never be used for any of the following purposes:
• Determining guilt or innocence (which is well outside of the scope and boundaries of the mental health professional’s role);
• Identifying whether an individual is or is not a “sex offender” (which is not an appropriate referral question, because no specific type of assessment or set of assessment tools is designed for making this determination); or
• Concluding whether an adult or juvenile meets the “profile” of a sex offender (which does not exist; research consistently demonstrates the diversity of adults and juveniles who have committed sex offenses).
Timing
Ideally, psychosexual evaluations are conducted pre–sentence or disposition and post–conviction or adjudication as a means of assisting judges and other interested parties with making well–informed disposition determinations. When conducted prior to the official ruling or finding by the trier–of–fact, several ethical and other controversies may arise. Included among these concerns are the potential for the defendant’s self–incrimination pertaining to current allegations, the possibility of additional charges being pursued because of disclosures of previously undetected offenses, and the introduction of overly prejudicial information that undermines the presumption of innocence or that otherwise influences the court’s finding.
In a limited number of circumstances, some of these concerns may be potentially mitigated, such as when the adult or juvenile admits to the allegations or agrees to the evaluation on the advice of counsel, when all parties agree to a pre–plea evaluation and agree to follow any recommendations as part of a plea negotiation process, or when the prosecution agrees not to file additional charges based on information disclosed during a pre–plea evaluation. Nonetheless, psychosexual evaluations are maximally useful and less subject to controversy when conducted following a conviction or adjudication.
Testing Process
The psychosexual evaluation typically consists of completion of multiple assessment and actuarial tools as well as case information review, mental health screens, a clinical interview and more. The evaluation process varies in duration depending upon the client and the circumstances regarding their particular case. The evaluation and interview can often be completed within one or two visits lasting approximately six to eight hours total. After the client completes the assessment and interview process clinicians compile data, review screening results and compose a formal evaluation which can then be sent to the evaluations requesting party.
If you have further questions or would like more information regarding Resolution Treatment Services Psychosexual Evaluations please contact Jason VanRuler or Greg Brostad here.
Amended from http://www.csom.org/pubs/cap/2/2_4.htm