NCJ Number
177909
Journal
Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: April 1999 Pages: 62-75
Date Published
1999
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the legal, ethical, and clinical issues that counselors should consider when responding to referral requests for the psychosexual evaluation of a sex offender.
Abstract
The five major issues discussed are presented in question form: Has the client admitted to or been found guilty of committing a sexual offense? Are the referral questions appropriate? Is the evaluator competent to conduct the evaluation? Has the offender given informed consent? Has the evaluator reviewed the appropriate background records? These are the questions a clinician must ask before accepting a referral for a psychosexual evaluation. If the client has not admitted to or been found guilty of committing a sexual offense, the counselor should educate the referral source about the inability of evaluation to determine guilt. If the referral questions are not appropriate, the counselor and referral sources should reach agreement on appropriate referral questions. If the counselor determines that he/she is not competent to conduct the evaluation, the counselor should refer the client to an appropriate evaluator. If the client has not given informed consent for the evaluation, the counselor should review the nature and purpose of the evaluation with the client and reach some agreement. Finally, the counselor should obtain and review available and relevant background records before conducting the evaluation. 1 figure and 57 references