Non-convicted offenders

[hpoloni]

I am doing an evaluation on a client who has never been convicted of an offense, but was investigated at one time and then the charges dropped. He is admitting to a great deal of inappropriate sexual behavior and I would like to use a risk assessment, but I am not sure if any are normed on non-criminal populations. Also, I am unfamiliar with any that use both static and dynamic risk factors. I would appreciate any guidance in this matter. Thank you

[PMH]

I think we know a lot more about recidivism rates than we do about First Offender rates.

Others will likely have different opinions, but I would not try to quantify his risk for offending.

Having said that, I would assume that because of the "great deal of inappropriate sexual behavior" he is at risk for stepping over the brink and offending.

So, what is the purpose of the evaluation?

If he is there voluntarily for a sexual behavior problem, you can focus treatment on his behavior and cognitions and work to walk him back away from the edge.

If he is in trouble again, and there is a legal issue, be very careful about what instruments you select and use.

If there is a history of other kinds of criminal behavior, you may be able to predict future criminality, and other folk may have some suggestions for that.

I like the IORNS (from PAR by Holly Miller) as kind of a rough tool. It has sex offenders in the normative population, and it was normed on Texas Prisoners, I believe. But it offers scales that address dynamic as well as static risk.

Tell us more.

-PMH

[hpoloni]

The client is being evaluated at the request of probation for the need for SO tx, which is undoubtedly there. He committed a drug offense and then violated for possessing a weapon.

The Static99-R has been suggested as well as the IORNS.

And I do tend to euphemize, but I should have said he sexually offended. He had sex with a 16YOA male and also did a bunch of surreptitious videotaping of people in his bathroom.

Thanks for your reply