Question: What is a Sex Offender evaluation?
Answer: In Indiana, a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) is someone “who suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes the individual likely to repeatedly commit a sex offense.” [Indiana Code 35-38-1-7.5.] An offender may petition for a hearing to remove the SVP designation. If the court approves the petition, they assign 2 professionals to conduct separate psychological evaluations.
What is assessed during a Sex Offender Evaluation?
- Sexual developmental history, sexual arousal patterns and interest, deviance and paraphilic disorders
- Personality pathology and strengths
- Criminal history
- Mental health history
- Drug and alcohol history
- Past and present maladaptive behaviors
- Medical/neurological/
pharmacological needs - High-risk behaviors
- Risk of re-offense based on a combination of factors
- Level of treatment and supervision needed
- Level of deception, denial, minimization and use of justifications
- Other factors as requested by attorney or court