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Assessing risk of sex offenders with major mental illness: integrating research into best practices

Sharon M. Kelley (Evaluation Unit, Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, Madison, WI, USA)
David Thornton (Research Unit, Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, Madison, WI, USA)

Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research

ISSN: 1759-6599

Article publication date: 12 October 2015

487

Abstract

Purpose

Sex Offenders with a Major Mental Illness (SOMMI) are doubly stigmatized, as these individuals are members of two highly marginalized social groups (Guidry and Saleh, 2004). Within each of these groups SOMMI only represent a small minority. For professionals seeking to base their practice in empirical research this has led to a significant problem since the literature related specifically to this group is both limited and hard to locate. Additionally, intensity of psychological risk factors varies as a function of psychiatric decompensation for some SOMMI making it hard to apply certain procedures that work with ordinary sexual offenders. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the relevant literature and recommendations for clinical practice that are responsive to the particular challenges posed by this unusual group of sexual offenders.

Design/methodology/approach

The current paper provides a review of literature on risk factors for sexual recidivism and validity of current risk tools as it pertains to SOMMI. Recommendations for risk assessment with SOMMI are provided.

Findings

The static actuarial tools appear to be useful with SOMMI. However, risk assessments measuring dynamic risk factors have poorer predictive validity. Additional factors that will need to be considered involve a possible higher recidivism rate for SOMMI and a variable relationship between major mental illness and sex offending with it sometimes predisposing, sometimes exacerbating existing risk factors, and sometimes mitigating risk.

Originality/value

There is a paucity of research and guidance in assessment and risk management of SOMMI. The current paper is the first to thoroughly explore the efficacy of current sex offender risk assessment tools with SOMMI and provide structured guidance for making decisions about risk and risk management needs for this challenging population.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Citation

Kelley, S.M. and Thornton, D. (2015), "Assessing risk of sex offenders with major mental illness: integrating research into best practices", Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 258-274. https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-02-2015-0162

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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