The assessment of risk in intellectually disabled sexual offenders.

Abstract

This thesis explored the application of risk assessment in sexual offenders with intellectual disabilities. A systematic review of the literature appraised the quality and methodology of research examining the predictive validity of risk assessment instruments, this highlighted a lack of research taking into sexual offenders with intellectual disabilities. The empirical research paper explored the predictive validity of the RRASOR, SVR-20, RM2000-V and the ARMIDILO instruments using a retrospective design on a sample of special needs offenders with intellectual disabilities. Comparisons with mainstream offenders highlighted the difference between the instruments ability to accurately predict risk between the two groups of offenders. The findings suggest that the ARMIDILO can be useful when predicting risk for an intellectual disabled population. In the next chapter a risk assessment instrument, the RRASOR, was critically reviewed. Following on from this, a case study using an individual approached to risk assessment in an intellectually impaired sexual offender was demonstrated. This chapter emphasises that comprehensive assessment would be a prerequisite to working effectively with offenders with intellectual disabilities in order to address specific intervention needs. A social skills intervention aimed to reduce the level of dynamic risk posed. This chapter also served to outline some of the difficulties associated with risk assessment and management in routine clinical practice. The final chapter concludes by discussing the implications of the findings for clinical practice and offers some directions for future research.