Use of the Violence Risk Scale—Sexual Offender Version and the Stable 2007 to assess dynamic sexual violence risk in a sample of treated sexual offenders.

The present study examined the predictive properties of Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offender version (VRS-SO) risk and change scores among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal sexual offenders in a combined sample of 1,063 Canadian federally incarcerated men. All men participated in sexual offender treatment programming through the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) at sites across its five regions. The Static-99R was also examined for comparison purposes. In total, 393 of the men were identified as Aboriginal (i.e., First Nations, Métis, Circumpolar) while 670 were non-Aboriginal and primarily White. Aboriginal men scored significantly higher on the Static-99R and VRS-SO and had higher rates of sexual and violent recidivism; however, there were no significant differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups on treatment change with both groups demonstrating close to a half-standard deviation of change pre and post treatment. VRS-SO risk and change scores significantly predicted sexual and violent recidivism over fixed 5- and 10-year follow-ups for both racial/ancestral groups. Cox regression survival analyses also demonstrated positive treatment changes to be significantly associated with reductions in sexual and violent recidivism among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men after controlling baseline risk. A series of follow-up Cox regression analyses demonstrated that risk and change score information accounted for much of the observed differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men in rates of sexual recidivism; however, marked group differences persisted in rates of general violent recidivism even after controlling for these covariates. The results support the predictive properties of VRS-SO risk and change scores with treated Canadian Aboriginal sexual offenders.

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Construct Validity of the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offender Version Instrument in a Multisite Sample of Treated Sexual Offenders

Assessment ◽

10.1177/1073191116643819 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 40-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mark E. Olver ◽

Craig S. Neumann ◽

Drew A. Kingston ◽

Terry P. Nicholaichuk ◽

Stephen C. P. Wong

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Construct Validity ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Sexual Offenders ◽

Sex Offender ◽

Service Providers ◽

Sexual Offender ◽

Violence Risk ◽

Risk Scale ◽

Three Factor

The present study examined the construct validity of the Violence Risk Scale–Sexual Offender version (VRS-SO) through an examination of its factor structure and convergence with psychological measures assessing conceptually relevant constructs in a sample of 732 treated incarcerated adult male sex offenders. The VRS-SO was rated prospectively pre- and posttreatment by service providers, and several of the men had completed a psychometric battery at each time point. Prospective Stable 2000 ratings were examined for comparison purposes. Results of exploratory longitudinal factor analysis, performed on VRS-SO pre- and posttreatment dynamic item scores, supported a three-factor model (comparative fit index = .990) and the measurement invariance of the loadings over time. A stringent longitudinal confirmatory factor analysis of the VRS-SO items also supported the three-factor structure. Scores from the three factors (Sexual Deviance, Criminality, and Treatment Responsivity) were correlated in conceptually meaningful ways with scores from the Stable 2000 and selected psychometric measures. The results provide evidence for the construct validity of VRS-SO test scores as providing an index of sex offender risk and, more specifically, that its item content and factor domains measure psychological constructs pertinent to sex offender risk and need.

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Trauma as common denominator of sexual violence and victimisation

Temida ◽

10.2298/tem0303027v ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 27-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Natasa Veselinovic

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Sexual Offenders ◽

Sexual Offender ◽

The Other ◽

Traumatic Experience ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Common Denominator ◽

Victim Empathy ◽

Behavioural Patterns ◽

The Way

Results of researches on biological, psychological and sociological characteristics of sexual offenders show etiological and phenomenological differences, while, on the other side, treatment programs show tendency toward unification. Unification that works contains behavioural learning victim empathy work and work on one?s own trauma. In this paper the author looks for an answer to the question who is the sexual offender and how he became that. In theory rapists and paedophiles are similar as much as their victims are, and they are often victims of some traumatic experience which seeks for satisfaction in inappropriate but well-known way. Sexual violence can be stopped by breaking the circle of its beginning and development by helping sexual perpetrator to find the way out from sexual violence circle and healthier behavioural patterns.

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Sexual Offenders, Violence and Testosterone: A Clinical Study

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/070674378402900412 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 335-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

John Mcd. W. Bradford ◽

D. Mclean

Keyword(s):

Clinical Study ◽

Sexual Assault ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Sexual Offenders ◽

Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽

Sexual Offender ◽

Plasma Testosterone ◽

Accurate Evaluation ◽

Testosterone Levels

Sexual assault has increased steadily over the last decade. Attempts at a more accurate evaluation of the violent sexual offender have included studies looking for correlation between plasma testosterone and high levels of sexual violence. The present study failed to replicate these findings, however, it confirmed the known association between violence and alcoholism. The significant association between a psychiatric diagnosis of depressive neurosis and low plasma testosterone levels was an associated finding.

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