Psychosexual Evaluations (Mental Health Sex Offense Specific Evaluations)

RSA provides both pre plea and post conviction Mental Health Sex Offense Specific Evaluations for male and female adult and juvenile clients, as well as developmentally delayed clients.  These evaluations meet the criteria required by the State of Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) and are conducted by experienced and credentialed staff who have met the qualification criteria and are listed by the SOMB to conduct these evaluations.

The SOMB was created in 1992 by Colorado General Assembly legislation to develop standards and guidelines for the assessment, evaluation, treatment and behavioral monitoring of sexual offenders.  The Adult Standards and Guidelines were first published and implemented in January of 1996 and were subsequently most recently updated and revised in September, 2018.  The Juvenile Standards and Guidelines were implemented in July 2003 and most recently updated and revised in June of 2017.  RSA is committed to compliance to the Standards that change  as emerging research,  literature and best practices influence such change.

According to the SOMB Adult Standards and Guidelines September 2018 update, “The purpose of a Mental Health Sex Offense Specific Evaluation is to assess a client’s need for treatment, determine what type of treatment is needed, and identify the risk level and any additional needs the client may have.

Evaluation services are accomplished through a review of discovery material and other relevant collateral data, the use of structured clinical interviews, collateral interviews where necessary, appropriate psychological testing, measurement of sexual arousal or sexual interest patterns, and where indicated, polygraph assessment may also be utilized.

Intake Assessments

Intake assessment includes a review of collateral information provided to our agency from the referral source and a structured interview.  Clients may get referred to RSA:

• After they have already completed a Mental Health Sex Offense Specific Evaluation at another agency and wish to receive offense specific treatment services at RSA;
• Direct from Department of Corrections (DOC) upon release from prison;
• Direct referral from a Probation Department
• Direct referral from Community Correction Services
• Direct referral from another professional source
• Voluntary clients

Child Contact Assessments

RSA provides Child Contact Screenings (CCS) designed to assess the level of risk that an eligible client (one who does not meet the SOMB defined exclusionary criteria) may present to his or her own children.  These evaluations meet the criteria required by the State of Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) and are conducted by experienced and credentialed staff who have met the qualification criteria and are listed by the SOMB to conduct these assessments.

The Sex Offender Management Board Standards and Guidelines indicate that in an attempt to safeguard an offender’s children and prevent an offender from being placed into a potentially high risk situation, the standards prohibit offenders from having any form of contact with children unless they meet established criteria and are deemed appropriate for some form of contact by the Community Supervision Team.  Offenders seeking contact with their own child or children (as defined in 5.710 of the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board Standards and Guidelines, own minor child is a minor child with whom the offender has a parental role, including but not limited to, biological, adoptive, and step children) may be appropriate for the CCS, which is based on research and clinical expertise in the field.  This assessment is designed to assist the Community Supervision Team members to determine when and under what circumstances child contact is appropriate.

Child Contact Screenings begin with a prescreen process, which includes a polygraph examination related to any history of sexual contact with minors, to rule out offenders who would not qualify for child contact per the CCS.  The CCS is a comprehensive evaluation which includes a review of discovery material and other relevant collateral data, a series of structured clinical interviews, collateral interviews where indicated and standardized tests that will provide information regarding a variety of factors associated with risk.

Sexual Arousal Assessment

The Sexual Behavior Laboratory at RSA is a facility designed and utilized to identify and measure sexual arousal patterns in adult and adolescent males.  Equipped with penile plethysmograph, a physiological recording instrument, and specialized  stimulus materials for male adolescent, adult, and developmentally delayed populations, the laboratory provides the most accurate, reliable, and statistically valid measure available for assessing sexual arousal.  These assessments are conducted by skilled, professional and certified staff.

The LOOK assessment is a computer-based ideographic assessment of sexual interests including pedophilia.  LOOK combines a participant’s opportunity to report sexual preferences along with having three (3) covert viewing time validity measures.

The purpose of this testing is to assist in identification of sexually related issues.  Specifically, the assessment data is used to identify areas of sexual arousal for evaluation and treatment planning, and to assess, where applicable, treatment progress and effectiveness of use of arousal control techniques.

Sexual Interest Assessments

The Abel Assessment of Sexual Interest is a psychological test designed to provide an objective measure of an individual’s sexual interests, as well as providing subjective information about sexual arousal patterns and sexual history.  This assessment is designed for use with a variety of populations to include adolescent and adult males and females, and developmentally delayed/special needs populations.  These assessments are conducted by Certified Abel Examiners.

The Affinity 2.5.1 is a computer based ipsative (using one’s self as the norm against which to measure something) objective psychological assessment of sexual interest utilizing non-pornographic slides depicting males and females of different ages and races.  These assessments are conducted by specifically trained examiners.

The purpose of these assessments is to assist in identification of sexually related issues.  Specifically, the assessment data is used to identify areas of sexual interest for evaluation and treatment planning, and to assess, where applicable, treatment progress and effectiveness of use of arousal control techniques.