NCJ Number
177718
Date Published
1998
Length
160 pages
Annotation
Providing practical guidance on the best way to assess sexual abusers, this book fuses contemporary theory with an awareness of the subjective nature of the work.
Abstract
Part I, "Values, Research, and Theoretical Base," contains one chapter that outlines the values and research base that form the foundation of the work, followed by a chapter that provides a critical summary of some of the theoretical models that commonly underpin assessment work with sexual abusers. Part II, "How to Assess: Contexts for Assessment," contains two chapters. One chapter provides guidelines for general procedures and good practice for assessing sexual abusers. Beginning with guidance on interviewing, the chapter then reviews the use of questionnaires, penile plenthysmography, projective testing, behavioral observation, and other approaches to assessment. The second chapter in Part II deals with some key contexts within which assessments are conducted. Some of the areas discussed are civil proceedings, child protection conferences, mental health, hostels, presentence reports, and prisoner release considerations. Part III, "The Practicalities of Assessment," contains nine chapters, each of which considers an area of the abuser's functioning that can be significant in the assessment task. The areas considered are the cycle of offending, sexual knowledge and attitudes, distorted thinking, sexual arousal and sexual fantasy, victim empathy, self-esteem, relationships and intimacy, alcohol and other drug use, and the abuser's own victimization. Risk assessment is discussed in the concluding chapter. 168 references and a subject index