Risk assessment of adolescent sex offenders: a case overview

  • Valentina Šobot Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7018-3944
  • Svetlana Ivanović Kovačević University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine
  • Vladimir Knežević University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine
  • Ana Marija Vejnović Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, Medicinski fakultet, Katedra za psihijatriju i psihološku medicinu
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/engrami43-35947
Keywords: adolescence, sexual offences, recidivism, risk factors

Abstract


One of the most important roles of mental health professionals in the forensic evaluation of adolescent sex offenders is to assess the risk of future delinquent behavior. The psychiatric and psychological expertise of a 17-year-old male adolescent, who was accused of rape, was conducted at the court’s request in order to determine the maturity of the juvenile, the risk of reoffending, and the need for treatment. The current case report demonstrates risk assessment based on the structured professional evaluation. This approach integrates clinical with empirical knowledge and it has been proven highly useful in risk assessment of sexual recidivism in adolescent sex offenders. The assessment was based on the integration of tha data obtained from the structured risk assessment tool Juvenile Sex Offender Assessment Protocol-II (JSOAP-II, Prentky and Righthand, 2003) and data based on standard professional expertise by forensic clinicians. The aim of the present case report was to show the advantages of a structured approach to risk assessment in adolescent sex offenders, as well as to assess the practical implications related to appropriate case management and the need for treatment.

Author Biographies

Valentina Šobot, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad

assistant professor

Svetlana Ivanović Kovačević, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine
associated professor
Vladimir Knežević, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine

associated professor

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Published
2022/02/27
How to Cite
Šobot, V., Ivanović Kovačević, S., Knežević, V., & Vejnović, A. M. (2022). Risk assessment of adolescent sex offenders: a case overview . Engrami, 43(2). https://doi.org/10.5937/engrami43-35947
Issue
Vol. 43 No. 2 (2021)
Section
CASE REPORT