SEX OFFENSE SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION
Psychosexual evaluations are also used as a tool to provide a court with more information about an individual. To enhance the reliability of the evaluation, many different pieces of information must be examined and integrated into the process. In the interview, our evaluator focuses on one’s sexual history and the roots of the concerning behaviors. Topics in the interview include sexual development, behaviors, attitudes, fantasies, and adjustment. The Psychosexual Evaluation takes place over three days on an outpatient basis. The focus of this evaluation is sexual behavior (e.g., sexual compulsivity) or professional boundary crossings.
The psychosexual evaluation has several components including: addiction assessment, psychiatric assessment, lab work, history and physical, psychological evaluation and testing, collateral information gathering, specific testing for sexual dependency issues, neuropsychological screening, and polygraph testing.
Types of Evaluations:
Psychosexual: This is a complete comprehensive evaluation with an additional heavy emphasis on sexual development, values, thoughts, interests, and behaviors. This evaluation is used when an individual has been charged with a sexual offense but has not been convicted. It provides information as to an individual’s psychological functioning, an assessment of deviant and non-deviant sexual thoughts and behaviors, and treatment recommendations. A risk assessment is not conducted, as it is not assumed that a sexual offense has in fact occurred.
Psychosexual with Risk Assessment: Often called a Sex Offense Specific Evaluation (SOSE), this examination is the same as a psychosexual evaluation with the addition of an assessment of the risk of committing a future sexual offense. This evaluation can be conducted when an individual has either admitted to a sexual offense or has been convicted of a sexual offense. It provides information about an individual’s psychological functioning, assessment of deviant and non-deviant sexual thoughts and behaviors, a risk assessment to determine an individual’s risk for re-offense, and treatment recommendations. Appropriate for adolescents or adults.
Psychosexual evaluations are designed to determine:
The risk of the adolescent or adult repeating the behavior
Interventions that will be most effective
Specific risk factors
One’s willingness to comply with treatment recommendations and interventions
Identifying factors that may prevent engagement in treatment and interventions
Identifying strengths and protective factors
Psychosexual evaluations do not:
Determine guilt or innocence
Identify whether an individual is or is not a “sex offender”
Conclude whether an adult or adolescent meets the “profile” of a sex offender
Psychosexual evaluations can be used to assist judges and other parties to make well-informed decisions as part of:
The pre-sentencing process in Adult and Juvenile Criminal Court
A custody dispute in Family Court
Child Protective Services cases
Psychosexual evaluations cost $1500 and are conducted over a series of 3 to 4 interview sessions. Outcomes Counseling and Treatment Services may refer patients to a licensed polygraph examiner for results to be included in the sex offender specific evaluation and patients should understand the polygraph test is a separate cost paid directly to the polygraph examiner.