Understanding Sexual Violence Risk: Laws, Risk Factors, and Sexually Violent Predator Evaluations

In this video, we delve deep into the assessment of sexual violence risk, examining the critical legal frameworks and evaluations that influence public safety measures. We explore important laws that have shaped sex offender registries and public notification systems, such as Megan’s Law, and how these laws purport to protect communities by identifying high-risk offenders. You'll gain insights into key risk factors that elevate the likelihood of sexual reoffending, including deviant sexual arousal, psychopathy, impulsivity, substance abuse, and more.

We also break down the evaluation process for Sexually Violent Predators (SVPs)—focusing on the legal criteria of mental abnormality and volitional impairment, and how these evaluations assess an individual’s risk of committing future acts of sexual violence. Learn about the differences between actuarial and structured professional judgment (SPJ) methods for assessing sexual violence risk.

Topics Covered:

Megan’s Law and public notification systems
Risk factors for sexual violence reoffending (e.g., psychopathy, impulsivity, child victimization)
Evaluation of sexually violent predators (SVP) including volitional impairment and mental abnormality
Actuarial vs. Structured Professional Judgment (SPJ) in risk assessments

This video is essential viewing for professionals in criminal justice, psychology, and anyone interested in understanding how sexual violence risk is assessed and managed to protect communities.

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