The Structured Assessment of Protective Factors against Sexual Offending (SAPROF-SO)

The Structured Assessment of Protective Factors against Sexual Offending (SAPROF-SO) is a structured tool to assess the presence of factors theoretically and empirically linked to a reduced risk of sexual recidivism. It is derived from the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors for violence risk (SAPROF; de Vogel, et al., 2012). Pilot research informed Version 1 of the SAPROF-SO which consists of 14 items across three subscales: Resilience, Adaptive Sexuality, and Prosocial Connection & Reward. An optional 6-item Professional Risk Management subscale is also included. Initial research found support for interrater reliability and construct validity of the SAPROF-SO (Willis et al., 2020), and predictive validity for reduced recidivism (Nolan et al., in press). Additional validation studies and the development of norms are ongoing.

Answers to frequently asked questions for clinicians and researchers trained in the SAPROF-SO by one of the authors are available here.

A longitudinal investigation of protective factors against sexual reoffending

The current study seeks to improve the predictive accuracy of sexual reoffending risk assessments through testing structured approaches to the assessment of protective factors, including the SAPROF-SO. Protective factors can be defined as factors that make reoffending less likely; they might directly reduce reoffence risk irrespective of risk factors, and/or moderate the influence of risk factors (de Vries Robbé, Mann, Maruna, & Thornton, 2014). Several domains of protective factors in relation to sexual offending have been proposed (e.g., healthy sexual interests, goal-directed living; de Vries Robbé et al., 2014), but methods for their measurement have not yet been refined.

The current study involves telephone-based interviews with people released from prison following an index sexual offence. Interviews focus on understanding participants’ experiences in the community (e.g., living circumstances, work/study, leisure activities, progress in relation to personal goals). For further information about this study, please email us!  Principal Investigator: Dr Gwenda Willis.  Collaborators: Dr Angela Carr, Ana Manavahetau, Imogen Miller MacDonald (University of Auckland), Tamara Smolinski, Dr Sarah Christofferson (University of Canterbury), & Prof Devon Polaschek (University of Waikato).

Adverse Childhood Experiences in adults who have sexually abused

Together with collaborators in the US, we are exploring the prevalence of childhood trauma in individuals who have sexually offended using the Adverse Childhood Experiences scale (ACE; Felitti et al., 1998).  In addition we are investigating relationships between ACE scores, criminogenic needs (risk factors associated with reoffending that are addressed in sexual offending treatment programmes, e.g., emotion regulation problems) and treatment outcomes.

Stand Strong Walk Tall: Prehabilitation for a Better Future

An exciting new project led by Dr Sarah Christofferson (University of Canterbury), Dr Gwenda Willis (University of Auckland), Dr Jacinta Cording (University of Canterbury) and Dr Waikaremoana Waitoki (University of Waikato).

Stand Strong, Walk Tall (SSWT) is a pilot specialist therapeutic service in Aotearoa New Zealand for adults who experience attraction to children/young people. The research-based SSWT service has dual aims: to enhance wellbeing by supporting participants to lead safe fulfilling lives, and to contribute to the prevention of child sexual abuse. The SSWT pilot is running from June 2022 to June 2023 and accepting self-referrals via its website www.sswt.org.nz. In-person or online therapy is offered in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Ōtautahi Christchurch, Pōneke Wellington, and online for participants elsewhere across Aotearoa New Zealand.