Sexual offenders

Abstract

Sexual offenders are likely to be among the most complex and challenging clients that forensic psychologists have to work with. While developing a respectful, compassionate and boundaried approach is important with any forensic group, such an approach is often more difficult but more essential with sexual offenders. It is important for forensic practice to be grounded in theoretical understanding of sexual offending, and this chapter begins with a theoretical overview of the subject. It deals with theoretical understandings of adult male sex offenders and particularly those whose offending involves physical contact with their victims. Different considerations apply to female and juvenile offenders and those involved in internet pornography. However the subsequent practical sections of this chapter arguably apply equally to all sexual offenders. It then goes on to consider the relationship between psychologist and sexual offender, a little considered aspect of this type of work, but an important one. The final section of this chapter will discuss particular considerations when assessing, formulating and disclosing reports to sexual offenders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)